Na Hong-jin's Sci-Fi Thriller 'HOPE' Gets Pan-India Release on September 25

Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin's upcoming sci-fi action thriller, HOPE, is set to hit Indian screens on September 25, 2026. The film will be released in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Korean, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences across the country.

The film marks Na Hong-jin's return to feature filmmaking after a decade. Known for acclaimed works such as The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, and The Wailing, the director brings a genre-driven narrative that blends science fiction, survival, and action.

Set in Hope Harbor, a remote village near the Demilitarized Zone, the story unfolds after residents report sightings of a mysterious creature. What begins as an unusual occurrence quickly escalates into a dangerous situation, forcing local authorities to confront an evolving crisis.

Na Hong-jin described the film as starting with the primal fear of encountering an unknown creature, expanding into a story about survival, human instinct, and the consequences of fear. He expressed excitement about Indian audiences experiencing the film's scale and spectacle on the big screen.

HOPE was selected for Competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or. This marks Na Hong-jin's fourth consecutive feature invited to Cannes. The film also performed strongly in South Korea, recording over 330,000 admissions on its opening day, the biggest opening for a film in the country in 2026 at the time of release. Distribution has been secured across more than 200 territories.

The India release is being managed by Star Entertainment. Jiten Hemdev, MD and CEO of the company, noted the film's success in South Korea and on the festival circuit, highlighting its blend of sci-fi, atmospheric tension, thrills, and action. He expressed hope that the five-language release would make the film accessible to audiences across India.