Neon buys Korean thriller before Cannes
Neon acquired the Korean thriller Hope before its Cannes premiere in a deal facilitated by UTA’s Independent Film Group, with cast representation split among agencies including UTA and CAA. The pre-festival sale shows distributors still move early when a package aligns with a buyer’s specialty strategy. (el-balad.com)
Neon has bought North American and English-language rights to Na Hong-jin’s Korean sci-fi thriller “Hope” before the film premieres in competition at Cannes in May. (deadline.com) The deal was negotiated by United Talent Agency Independent Film Group and Neon executive Sarah Colvin, according to Deadline and Screen. Variety reported Neon had been pursuing the film since November and plans a theatrical release. (deadline.com) (screendaily.com) (variety.com) “Hope” is Na’s first feature since “The Wailing” in 2016, and Cannes announced on April 9 that it will screen in the main competition at the 2026 festival. The festival opens May 12, according to Korean and trade reports published after the lineup reveal. (hollywoodreporter.com) (deadline.com) (biz.chosun.com) The film gives Neon its sixth Cannes title this year, including five in competition, extending a strategy that has tied the distributor closely to the festival. Deadline said Neon’s releases include the past six Palme d’Or winners. (deadline.com) (variety.com) That early buy also cuts against the idea that every Cannes deal now waits for a premiere response. In this case, Neon moved before the screening on a package that combined a Cannes competition slot, a director with festival history and a cast split between Korean stars and Hollywood names. (deadline.com) (hollywoodreporter.com) The story begins with reports of a tiger near a remote harbor village by the Korean Demilitarized Zone, then expands into what Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux described as a genre-shifting film running more than two hours. Trade reports describe Hwang Jung-min as the police chief at the center of the panic. (variety.com) (hollywoodreporter.com) (deadline.com) The cast includes Hwang, Zo In-sung and Hoyeon from South Korea, alongside Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton. The mixed cast makes “Hope” Na’s first film built around both Korean and Hollywood actors, The Hollywood Reporter said. (deadline.com) (variety.com) (hollywoodreporter.com) The project has been in the market for years. Deadline reported in 2023 that Plus M Entertainment and United Talent Agency Independent Film Group were handling North America sales, and The Hollywood Reporter said this Cannes launch comes after roughly a decade of development. (deadline.com) (hollywoodreporter.com) Na has premiered all four of his features at Cannes, moving from “The Chaser” in 2008 to “The Yellow Sea” in 2011 and “The Wailing” in 2016 before reaching the main competition with “Hope.” Neon now gets the next test of whether that Cannes track record can turn an early acquisition into another high-profile theatrical run. (hollywoodreporter.com) (screendaily.com)
