Shocking blend of old-school thrills and cutting-edge tech — Na Hong-jin’s new film Hope just dropped a behind-the-scenes teaser, and it’s already going viral.
On the 24th, distributor Plus M Entertainment unveiled a making trailer that dives into the intense production of Hope. The film follows Beom-seok (Hwang Jung-min), the head of a small outpost at Hopo Port in the Demilitarized Zone, who hears from local youths that a tiger has appeared — and as the whole town descends into chaos, he confronts a reality that defies belief.
The teaser spotlights the film’s bold genre mash-up. Hope crashes hand-to-hand, analog stunt work — performed by the actors themselves — into a fully realized 3D creature brought to life with facial-capture and motion-capture technology, all within the same frame.
Like the great action films of the late 20th century, the team refused to lean on CG for stunts, instead committing to real performers and on-location shoots. Then they raised the stakes by unleashing the 3D creature in broad daylight, aiming for a raw tension and immediacy that sets it apart from typical creature features.
The footage also reveals the arsenal that made it possible: a slider system capable of hitting 200 km/h, a bike cam, and custom wire-cam rigs — all showing how the high-octane chases came together. The merger of sheer speed and practical action signals that Hope isn’t just a creature film; it’s engineered for pure action adrenaline.
Hollywood stars also got hands-on for the first time in this reveal. Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton traveled to Korea to perform motion-capture and facial-capture sessions themselves, delivering meticulous facial work and full-body movement to embody the creature’s presence.
After filming, Michael Fassbender said, "It’s incredibly original. I’ve never seen anything like it before." Alicia Vikander added, "I really love Na Hong-jin’s films. They’re incredibly artistic, fun, and thrilling," underscoring her trust in the project.
Hope was invited to the Competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where early screenings drew praise from international outlets for its relentless chase sequences and ambitious direction — fueling even more anticipation.
Na Hong-jin’s new creature-action spectacle Hope hits theaters on July 15.