Cannes Film Festival: Korea’s Na Hong-jin already plans sequel to sci-fi Hope

CANNES, France — Korean director Na Hong-jin has already sketched out a sequel to his sci-fi thriller Hope, he said on Monday, a day after the film that took eight years to make premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

“I’ve actually written the story down. I’d love to make it, and if the opportunity arises, I’ll certainly have to,” Mr. Na told journalists. “I’ll be doing my best to create that opportunity,” added the director whose international breakout came with 2016’s The Wailing.

Set in a remote village near the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea, Hope follows a community thrown into chaos after mysterious entities begin to appear. At the center of the story is the local police chief, played by Hwang Jung-min, while Oscar-winning Swedish actor Alicia Vikander and her husband, German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender, take on the roles of extraterrestrial beings.

Ms. Vikander recalled that her interest in Asian cinema began at the Busan film festival, where she first encountered Mr. Na’s work and later sought him out. “I think director Na is incredible, such a visionary,” she said.

When asked why he took the role, Mr. Fassbender replied: “Alicia told me to do it.”

Mr. Na told Reuters on Sunday that the film took more than eight years to make. “It was the sort of film that really made me feel I’d hit a brick wall,” he said.

All four of Mr. Na’s features have screened at Cannes, though Hope is his first to compete against 21 other films for the Palme d’Or top prize that will be given out on May 23.

It is also the only Korean film in competition this year under an international jury headed by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. — Reuters