Neon Acquires Na Hong-Jin’s ‘Hope’ for Cannes Competition

Neon has secured the North American and English-language rights to Na Hong-Jin’s highly anticipated film, *Hope*, for the Cannes Film Festival competition. This acquisition marks Neon’s fifth entry into the competitive slate at Cannes, illustrating the company’s continued commitment to showcasing exceptional global cinema.

Film Overview

*Hope* is set in a secluded village named Hope Harbor, located near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea. The narrative centers around police chief Bum-seok, who receives distressing reports from local youths about a tiger sighting. As panic spreads through the village, Bum-seok is compelled to confront a bizarre reality.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Na Hong-Jin
• Producers: Na Hong-Jin, Saemi Kim, Saerom Kim (Forged Films)
• Executive Producers: Jeongin Hong, Eugene Kim
• Main Cast:
  • Hwang Jung-min (*Deliver Us from Evil*)
  • Zo In-sung (*Moving*)
  • Hoyeon (*Squid Game*)
  • Alicia Vikander (*Ex Machina*)
  • Michael Fassbender (*Steve Jobs*)
  • Taylor Russell (*Bones and All*)
  • Cameron Britton (*Umbrella Academy*)

Festival Participation

This year marks Na Hong-Jin’s fourth appearance at Cannes, following the screenings of his previous works:

• *The Chaser* (2008) – Out of Competition
• *The Yellow Sea* (2011) – Un Certain Regard
• *The Wailing* (2016) – Out of Competition

With the addition of *Hope*, Neon’s titles at Cannes now total six films, including:

• Arthur Harari’s *The Unknown*
• Cristian Mungiu’s *Fjord*
• Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s *All of a Sudden*
• Hirokazu Koreeda’s *Sheep in the Box*
• Nicolas Winding Refn’s *Her Private Hell* (out of competition)

Industry Response

Eugene Kim, Head of Content at Plus M Entertainment, expressed excitement about the partnership with Neon, praising their track record of promoting global masterpieces. The deal was notably negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group, with Sarah Colvin representing Neon.

News of Neon’s interest in *Hope* emerged on social media and was initially confirmed by Variety. The film is expected to make a significant impact on North American audiences, especially given its genre-bending narrative.