Exclusive : Deadline can reveal the first look image and poster for Korean filmmaker Na Hong-Jin’s ( Scream ) upcoming sci-fi thriller Hope starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-Sung, Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, Alicia Vikander, Cameron Britton, and Michael Fassbender. You can see both below.
Tessera’s poster uses a direct frame from the film, capturing “a moment deep in the woods as a rider on a galloping horse grabs a young man by the collar, rescuing him as if from an alien threat.”
Filmed in Retezat National Park in Romania, we’re told the sequence proved to be very demanding, requiring precise synchronization between actor, horse, rigging, and camera, and a long training period for the cast and crew, including cinematographer Alex Hong, who wanted to capture the shot in natural light at 120 frames per second despite the forest cover. Hong is well-known for his work on Parasite and Burning and worked with NA on The Scream in the Field.
Described as NA’s most ambitious project to date, the sci-fi action thriller is set in the remote port town of Hope, near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). When a tiger is suspected and the local police chief, Bum-Seok, is alerted, it throws the community into chaos. What begins as a local emergency soon spirals into a deeper, more terrifying mystery that forces the townspeople to confront the unknown.
Hwang Jung-Min plays Bum-Seok, the arrogant but duty-bound chief of the Hope Harbor Police Substation. Zo In-sung portrays Sung-Ki, a young local who spends his days hunting and fishing. Ho Yeon appears as Sung-Ae, a tough officer who remains steadfast no matter what. They are joined by international stars Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton with Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender, who play the film’s alien heroes.
The mostly Korean-language film, which is still in post-production, is set for a summer 2026 release, with international sales handled by Plus M Entertainment and UTA Independent Film Group, representing North America. The producers are NA Productions banner Fake Films and Plus M Entertainment.
The project is the director’s first since 2016’s box office hit and Cannes entry The Scream .
