[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Na Hong-jin has revealed his vision for a sequel to the film “Hope.” He even mentioned the possibility of the protagonist traveling to North Korea. However, since production has not yet been confirmed, attention is focused on whether the story’s universe will actually continue in a sequel.

“Hope” is the first feature film in 10 years from Director Na—known for “The Chaser,” “The Yellow Sea,” and “The Wailing”—since “The Wailing.” Set in the fictional village of Hope Port near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the film depicts the events that unfold when villagers, while chasing a massive, unidentified creature that has appeared in their town, encounter an extraterrestrial entity. The film boasts a star-studded cast, featuring actors Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, and Eum Moon-seok, as well as Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender.
In an interview with the U.S. media outlet *The Hollywood Reporter* on the 16th (local time), Director Na revealed specific plans for a sequel to *Hope*.
First, Director Na explained why he set the location of *Hope* near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), saying, “To bring out the plot and action, we needed a very isolated location, so we had to go near the DMZ.”
He added, “As the story developed, it grew longer, and I realized that to tell the entire story, we would need at least a sequel or possibly a trilogy.” This implies that from the very beginning of conceptualizing “Hope,” he had considered the possibility of expanding the story into multiple films rather than confining it to a single movie.

In fact, “Hope” leaves room for a sequel by hinting at the possibility of new events unfolding in the finale. Director Na said, “The first film takes place entirely during the day, but as it nears the end, the sun begins to set,” adding, “It’s a bit of a teaser—in the sequel, military reinforcements will arrive at night.”
Regarding Beom-seok, played by Hwang Jung-min, he added, “Although he’s limping severely, he’s still alive and fighting,” and said, “Don’t be surprised if he crosses over into North Korea,” building anticipation.
While the first film centered on the residents of Hope Harbor, the sequel hints at an expanded universe by introducing military organizations in earnest and raising the possibility that the protagonist might head to North Korea.
However, production of the sequel has not yet been confirmed. Director Na said, “Two investment firms have expressed interest in investing,” adding, “Nothing has been decided yet, but the discussions so far have been encouraging.”

Director Na also noted, “I’m debating whether to make ‘Hope 2’ as my next project or to work on another film first,” adding, “I’ve come up with an idea for a new movie that’s very dark and reeks of blood.”
Since its domestic release, “Hope” has been gradually reaching audiences in overseas markets, including North America. According to Box Office Mojo, a U.S. box office tracking site, as of the 14th, “Hope” had grossed a cumulative total of $5.27 million (approximately 7.2 billion won) in North America. It proved its competitiveness in North America by breaking into the top 10 of the North American weekend box office—an unusual achievement for a non-English-language Asian live-action film.
Since overseas box office revenue and performance could influence the potential for future series expansions, attention is focused on its box office performance in the global market.