Na Hong‑Jin Unveils ‘Hope’: Comic‑Con Debut Highlights New Alien Thriller and Hoyeon’s Stunt Work

South Korean filmmaker Na Hong‑Jin debuted at San Diego Comic‑Con, unveiling his latest project, Neon’s alien action thriller “Hope.”

Ahead of his stage appearance in Ballroom 20, a compilation reel featuring Na’s prior films — from his 2008 debut “The Chaser” through “The Yellow Sea” and “The Wailing” — was shown, accompanied by Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” captivating the audience.

Na described “Hope” as “a continuation of the same metaphor and meaning, yet its style, thought, and content are entirely distinct. I urge viewers to discard any preconceptions formed by my earlier work before seeing this film.”

Set in the isolated village of Hope Harbor, the film portrays a mysterious creature that has caused widespread devastation. As police and local hunters venture out to pursue the beast, they discover they are the ones being hunted. The situation grows increasingly complex, revealing layers of deception.

The thriller stars Hoyeon, whose breakout performance in Netflix’s “Squid Game” earned an Emmy nomination and international acclaim. Director Na cited casting her as one of his finest decisions, calling the film a decade‑long passion project finally realized.

Hwang Jung-min, who leads the international cast, suggested Hoyeon for a key police officer role, remarking that anyone who meets her recognizes her extraordinary talent. Na recalled arranging an immediate meeting; the two read the screenplay over takeout, and she quickly committed to the part. “Ironically, Hwang Jung-min had never even met her before,” Na added.

Hoyeon appeared in a special video message to introduce two exclusive clips for Comic‑Con attendees. The first clip depicts Hwang and a team firing through town ruins before confronting the massive alien predator. The second showcases an extended chase in which a character leaps from a horse onto a police car while fanged creatures pursue them along a highway. After the high‑octane footage, Na disclosed that these scenes were not the most challenging; the hardest sequence involved characters fleeing on horseback through a forest.

Na highlighted Hoyeon’s performance in another scene, noting that she spent six months mastering manual stick‑shift driving. “After six months she could execute those stunts from highly challenging angles,” he explained. “She handled all the driving and acting herself; the word ‘difficult’ barely describes what we witnessed. My DP and I were on the edge of our seats, terrified for her safety.”

During the panel’s Q&A, Na joked that “approximately 90 %” of the characters might not survive, refusing to disclose which ones. The remark provoked laughter from the audience.

The film, also starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton, premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it captivated audiences. Neon aims to achieve similar acclaim upon its U.S. release on September 9. Na also announced during Cannes that a sequel is already in development.

“You can easily envision the sequel,” Na stated at his Cannes press conference. “A script has already been written, and I intend to film it if the opportunity arises.”

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