[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Director Na Hong-jin’s new film “HOPE” is set to take on the North American box office following its domestic release. After capturing global attention with its world premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival, the film has confirmed its North American release, raising expectations for global box office success.

According to distributor Plus M Entertainment, “HOPE” has confirmed its North American release for September 9 and has unveiled its North American trailer. Previously, “HOPE” generated buzz by forming a partnership with Neon, a U.S. distributor that has handled the North American distribution of numerous Palme d’Or winners at the Cannes International Film Festival and Academy Award-winning Best Picture films.
The released North American trailer is set in Hopo Port near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which comes under attack by an unidentified entity, and concisely captures Director Na Hong-jin’s signature creative direction and overwhelming scale.
Breathtaking chases unfolding in broad daylight in the city center, high-octane action sequences, and high-speed car chases against an unknown entity all heighten the tension. Combined with bursts of black comedy and humor at unexpected moments, the trailer foreshadows Director Na Hong-jin’s signature genre sensibility, which fluidly blends science fiction, action, and thriller elements.
In particular, the film’s stunning visuals—achieved through the active use of real sets and on-location filming rather than relying on computer graphics (CG)—are especially eye-catching. The visuals, which maximize realism and immersion, deliver a scale rarely seen in previous Korean films, further heightening anticipation.
The response from international critics has also been enthusiastic. Following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, major U.S. media outlets have issued a series of glowing reviews. The Wrap praised it as “the pinnacle of what action cinema can achieve,” while The Hollywood Reporter raved, “Director Na Hong-jin has returned with a work so overwhelming that his previous films feel like mere warm-ups.”
“Hope” tells the story of Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo Port branch office near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), who, after receiving a report from village youths about a tiger sighting, faces an unbelievable series of events that shake the entire village to its core. The film stars Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender.