Neon Sets North American Release Date for Na Hong-jin’s Hope

Overview

• Neon has scheduled the film Hope for North American theatrical release on September 9, with a South Korean opening planned for this summer.
• Hope premiered In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it drew a lengthy standing ovation but received divided reviews that praised its action and flagged roughly a dozen CGI shots and a slow middle section.
• The producers and director Na Hong-jin have begun postproduction changes that focus specifically on tightening the film's pacing and fixing the criticized visual-effects shots.
• The film secured unusually large overseas pre-sales, reported at more than 200 territories, and partners including Mubi hold regional rights as part of a staggered international distribution plan.
• A sequel has already been written and the creative team is positioning Hope as a commercial franchise, a plan that will depend on final edits, box office performance, and additional backing.