Michael Fᴀssbender’s highly anticipated Korean sci-fi thriller, Hope, has set a release window. The upcoming film is from the acclaimed South Korean director Na Hong-Jin, who has been credited with redefining Korean genre cinema with the action-thrillers The Chaser (2008) and The Yellow Sea (2010), and the horror movie The Wailing (2016). Now, Na’s next film is described as a sci-fi action thriller.

The film features South Korean stars Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Zo In-sung, and Emmy nominee Hoyeon (Squid Game). Its international stars include two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fᴀssbender (12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs), Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Taylor Russell (Bones and All), and Emmy nominee Cameron Britton (Mindhunter).

Now, the highly anticipated Korean sci-fi thriller has set a release window. According to Variety, Hope is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2026. As the movie reveals its release plans, the project is currently in post-production. Na shared the following statement:

I’m deeply grateful to the actors for taking on these roles and delivering such dedicated performances. They conveyed everything this film set out to capture with remarkable talent and focus. I have felt this every time, but their collective presence is truly extraordinary.

What Hope’s Release Date Means For The Movie

It Could Be A Summer Blockbuster

With Hope‘s release date set for the summer of 2026, Na Hong-Jin’s next film positions itself as a potential summer blockbuster, especially after his last movie, The Wailing, was a smash hit at the box office in 2016. Billed as his most ambitious project yet, the upcoming sci-fi thriller is set in the isolated village of Hope Harbor, near a heavily guarded demilitarized zone.

When a tiger sighting is reported and the local police chief, Bum-seok, is called in, the incident plunges the community into disarray. However, what starts as a regional crisis quickly unravels into a far more chilling and complex mystery, one that compels the villagers to face forces beyond their understanding. Hwang reunites with Na after The Wailing to play Bum-seok.

Zo plays Sung-ki, a determined local tracking a dangerous creature, while Squid Game star Hoyeon makes her film debut as Sung-ae, an idealistic rookie officer caught in an overwhelming crisis. Fᴀssbender, Vikander, Russell, and Britton all play extraterrestrials whose sudden arrival in Hope Harbor intensifies the town’s descent into chaos and deepens the unfolding mystery.

Our Take On Hope’s Release Date

Could It Be Na Hong-Jin’s Biggest Film Yet?

With a release date set for the summer of 2026, Hope could be a potential summer blockbuster. Following the mᴀssive success of The Wailing, Na Hong-Jin’s most ambitious project yet promises thrilling sci-fi action, elevated by a stellar international cast including A-listers like Michael Fᴀssbender and Alicia Vikander. Overall, expectations are high for Hope to become a groundbreaking summer blockbuster.

Source: Variety