Hope
International teaser poster
Hangul
호프
RR Hopeu
MR Hop'ŭ
Directed by Na Hong-jin
Written by Na Hong-jin
Produced by
  • Na Hong-jin
  • Kim Sae-mi
Starring
  • Hwang Jung-min
  • Zo In-sung
  • Jung Ho-yeon
  • Taylor Russell
  • Cameron Britton
  • Alicia Vikander
  • Michael Fassbender
Cinematography Hong Kyung-pyo
Edited by Kim Sun-min
Music by Michael Abels
Production
companies
  • Forged Films
  • Plus M Entertainment
Distributed by Plus M Entertainment
Release dates
  • May 17, 2026 (2026-05-17) (Cannes)
  • 2026 (2026) (South Korea)
Running time
160 minutes[1]
Country South Korea
Language
  • Korean

Hope (Korean: 호프) is a 2026 South Korean epic science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Na Hong-jin. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender. The film centers on a village police chief and his rookie deputy who must defend his local community from a mysterious creature after wildfires sever all communications, while a local hunting party finds itself being hunted deep in the mountains.[1]

The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on May 17, where it will compete for the Palme d'Or. It received positive reviews, with special praise for Na's direction in action sequences, but was criticised for its VFX work.[2]

It is scheduled for a summer 2026 release in South Korea.

Premise

In the remote village of Hope Harbor, near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the community is thrown into chaos when a tiger is suspected to have appeared and local police chief Bum-seok is alerted. But what begins as a local emergency soon spirals into a deeper, more terrifying mystery, one that forces the town's residents to confront the unknown.

Cast

  • Hwang Jung-min as Bum-seok,[1] the police chief
  • Zo In-sung as Sung-ki,[1] a headstrong local who tracks a dangerous creature
  • Jung Ho-yeon as Sung-ae,[1] a rookie cop
  • Taylor Russell as Ai'dovor[1]
  • Cameron Britton as Va'migere[1]
  • Alicia Vikander as J'aur[1]
  • Michael Fassbender as Ma'veyyo[1]
  • Uhm Tae-goo
  • Lee Kyu-hyung

Production

Development

Writer and director Na Hong-jin was reportedly originally collaborating on the project with Alfonso Cuarón. It is Na Hong-jin's first since The Wailing in 2016.[3] He has described how the film developed from an idea he had in 2017 or 2018 of a single image that came to him whilst eating in a restaurant.[4] It is produced by Forged Films with Plus M Entertainment distributing internationally and UTA Independent Film Group and Plus M distributing in North America. Cinematography is by Hong Kyung-pyo who also collaborated on The Wailing.[5] The budget for the film was reportedly higher than any previous Korean film.[6]

Casting

The cast includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Uhm Tae-goo and Lee Kyu-hyung, as well as Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, who do not speak Korean in the film.[7][8][9] It marks the first on-screen collaboration for real-life married couple Vikander and Fassbender since the 2016 film The Light Between Oceans.[5] In April 2023, Cameron Britton and Taylor Russell joined the cast.[10][11]

Filming

Principal photography took place in 2023 in Bukpyeong-myeon. Filming locations included Namchang in Haenam County.[12][13] Filming also took place in Romania in the area around the Retezat Mountains.[14] A sequence shot with natural daylight involving a horse riding through a forest was filmed in Retezat National Park.[15] Vikander and Russell had completed their filming block by July 2024.[16]

Release

Hope had its world premiere at the main competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2026,[1] marking the first South Korean film to compete for the Palme d'Or since Decision to Leave (2022). The selection makes it the fourth film by director Na Hong-jin to be screened at the festival, following The Chaser (2008) in Midnight Screenings, The Yellow Sea (2011) in Un Certain Regard, and The Wailing (2016) in the Out of Competition section.[17]

Hope is slated for a summer 2026 release in South Korea.[18] Neon acquired distribution rights to the film in North America and other English-speaking territories.[19][20] In May 2026, Mubi acquired distribution rights in Latin America, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Turkey.[21]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 81% of 32 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[23]

Nicholas Barber from BBC gave the movie four out of five stars.[24]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 23 May 2026 Palme d'Or Na Hong-jin Pending [25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Hope". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  2. ^ "Hope review: This 'wild South Korean blockbuster' is '2026's must-see monster movie' ★★★★☆". www.bbc.com. May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  3. ^ "Exclusive] Hwang Jung-min to star in director Na Hong-jin's SF film 'Hope'... Reunion after 'The Wailing'". Star News (in Korean). December 7, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2024 – via Nate.
  4. ^ "[Exclusive] Director Na Hong-jin: "'Hope' could become a trilogy, or it could expand further.." [Interview]". Ilgan Sports. March 30, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (March 29, 2023). "Michael Fassbender & Alicia Vikander Set For Thriller 'Hope' From 'The Wailing' Director Na Hong-Jin & Korean Major Plus M Entertainment; 'Parasite' DoP Also Aboard". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  6. ^ 해남군, 나홍진 감독 신작영화 '호프' 해남에서 촬영. Metro Seoul (in Korean). July 26, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (March 29, 2023). "'Squid Game' Star Hoyeon Joins Michael Fassbender & Alicia Vikander In Korean Thriller 'Hope'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Kim, Da-sol (April 2, 2023). "Director Na Hong-jin to helm star-studded thriller 'Hope'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Zaveri, Rhythm (May 9, 2023). "Uhm Tae-goo and Lee Kyu-hyung join Na Hong-jin's New Feature "Hope" (Exclusive)". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 4, 2023). "Taylor Russell Joins Hoyeon, Michael Fassbender & Alicia Vikander In Korean Thriller 'Hope'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 4, 2023). "'The Umbrella Academy' & 'Mindhunter' Actor Cameron Britton Joins Buzzy Korean Thriller 'Hope'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Director Na Hong-jin's new SF film 'Hope' filmed in Namchang, Haenan". kbc news. July 30, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  13. ^ 테일러 러셀이 해남엔 무슨 일로?..나홍진 신작 '호프' 해남 남창서 촬영. KBC News (in Korean). July 19, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "PE VALEA SÂMBETEI ȘI ÎN RETEZAT S-AU FILMAT SECVENȚE PENTRU UN FILM COREEAN. REGIZORUL NA HONG-JIN A FOST IMPRESIONAT DE SĂLBĂTICIA PĂDURILOR DIN CARPAȚI". monitorfg.ro. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 15, 2025). "'Hope': First Look Image & Poster Revealed For Na Hong-Jin Sci-Fi Thriller Starring Hwang Jung-Min, Hoyeon, Michael Fassbender, Taylor Russell & More". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^ "Alicia Vikander: 'You Have To Let Go'". Elle. July 24, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  17. ^ Woo, Jae-yeon (April 9, 2026). "Na Hong-jin's sci-fi film 'Hope' heads to Cannes main competition". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  18. ^ Ritman, Alex (July 29, 2025). "Na Hong-Jin's New Film 'Hope,' Starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, Hwang Jung-min and More, Sets Summer 2026 Release (Exclusive)". Variety.
  19. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (April 10, 2026). "Neon Buys Korean Thriller 'Hope,' Starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, Ahead of Cannes Premiere". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  20. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 10, 2026). "Neon Adds To Cannes Competition Coffers With Na Hong-Jin's Sci-Fi Thriller 'Hope'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  21. ^ Ntim, Zac (May 5, 2026). "Mubi Acquires Multiple International Territories On Na Hong-Jin's Cannes Competition Title 'Hope'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  22. ^ "Hope". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  23. ^ "Hope". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  24. ^ Barber, Nicholas (May 19, 2026). "Hope review: This 'wild South Korean blockbuster' is '2026's must-see monster movie' ★★★★☆". BBC. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  25. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (May 17, 2026). "Who Will Win the Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or?". IndieWire. Retrieved May 18, 2026.