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Director Na Hong-jin's upcoming film 'Hope' to be distributed by U.S. indie powerhouse NEON

Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 09:36 Updated: 13 Apr. 2026, 19:37

MICHAEL LEE
[email protected]

The promotional poster for ″Hope,″ director Na Hong-jin's first full-length feature film since ″The Wailing″ (2016) [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

Director Na Hong-jin's upcoming film “Hope” will be distributed in North America by the U.S. indie powerhouse distributor NEON, the movie’s co-producer, Plus M Entertainment, said on Monday.

“The deal pairs one of Korea’s most distinctive genre filmmakers with a distributor known for shepherding international art-house hits into the [U.S.] mainstream,” Plus M Entertainment said in a press release.

Director Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' invited to compete for Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival

For Plus M Entertainment, the agreement also signals an early vote of confidence from a company with a track record closely intertwined with success at the Cannes Film Festival.

Founded in 2017, NEON has built a reputation for acquiring and releasing a string of high-profile festival winners, including Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” (2019), which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Palme d’Or recipients such as “Titane” (2021) and “Triangle of Sadness” (2022).

In recent years, NEON has emerged as a key conduit for Korean cinema’s global expansion, most recently handling North American distribution for Park Chan-wook’s latest release, “No Other Choice” (2025).

“We are thrilled to partner with the one and only director Na Hong-jin, along with Forged Films and Plus M Entertainment, to bring the highly anticipated 'Hope’ to audiences around the world,” NEON said in a statement.

The film’s invitation to compete in the main section of Cannes for the Palme d’Or has already generated early intrigue.

Festival organizers have praised the film for its shifting genre and originality, calling it “a story never told before,” according to press materials.

Set in a remote outpost near the demilitarized zone, “Hope” follows a local official who is alerted to reports of a tiger appearing in the area.

As the village is thrown into a state of alarm, the story spirals into what the filmmakers describe as an encounter with an “unbelievable reality,” blending suspense with elements that have not been fully disclosed.

Na, whose films such as “The Chaser” (2008) and “The Wailing” (2016) are known for their meticulous visual composition and escalating psychological tension, has spent years developing the project.

His return to the Cannes competition marks his first in a decade.

The film will make its world premiere at Cannes in May, ahead of an expected domestic theatrical release in Korea in the summer, with North American distribution to follow.

BY MICHAEL LEE [[email protected]]