Korean and Japanese Leading Actors Gather, Director Byun Sung-hyun's 'Good News' Releases Second Character Stills!

After the world premiere screening in the Special Presentation section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, the Netflix film 〈Good News〉 has garnered attention for its immersive story, unique characters, and distinctive direction, and has released its second character stills. 〈Good News〉 is a film that depicts the suspicious operation of people gathered in the 1970s who are determined to land a hijacked plane by any means necessary.

The released second character stills capture the tense moments of those who must land the hijacked plane at all costs and those who must head to Pyongyang by any means. First, the mysterious troubleshooter Amuga (Seol Kyung-gu), gazing somewhere with a strange expression inside the control tower, raises curiosity about how he will solve the unprecedented hijacking incident, as he always presents solutions in secret when problems arise. The determined expression of elite Air Force Lieutenant Seo Go-myung (Hong Kyung), who has been unexpectedly assigned a critical mission, reveals his conflict between ambition for success and the dangerous reality, as well as his firm will to succeed in the operation.

The head of the operation, Central Intelligence Director Park Sang-hyun (Ryu Seung-beom), stands confidently against a backdrop of numerous medals that prove his position, raising curiosity about what orders he will give as the commander of this extraordinary operation. Meanwhile, Japanese Vice Minister of Transport Shinichi (Yamada Takayuki), who was urgently dispatched to Korea to resolve the incident, and the captain of the hijacked passenger plane Kubo (Shiina Kippei) and co-pilot Maeda (Kim Sung-oh) are all struggling in their respective roles to save the passengers in crisis, enhancing the immersion. Additionally, the solemn appearance of the leader of the Japanese communist armed group Denji (Kasamatsu Sho) and co-leader Asuka (Yamamoto Nairu), who are at the starting point of the incident, amplifies curiosity about whether they can reach Pyongyang through the hijacked passenger plane.

Seol Kyung-gu stated, "Amuga is a character on the boundary between normal and abnormal. Everything is alien to him as he does not mix with those around him," hinting at a different side from what he has shown in previous collaborations with director Byun Sung-hyun. Hong Kyung shared, "I was drawn to Seo Go-myung's lack of integrity and everything stemming from his fervent ambition," explaining the reason for choosing the multi-dimensional character of Seo Go-myung, which adds to the curiosity about what he will portray. Ryu Seung-beom remarked, "I felt that Park Sang-hyun is very eccentric. I approached him as a person with a childlike pure inner self and a childish personality," revealing the process of creating a character with a new personality rather than a typical power figure. Director Byun Sung-hyun expressed, "The actors were so good at acting that the chemistry on set was really great. Not only the lead actors but all the actors on set moved like an orchestra to create the film," showing deep satisfaction. With such solid acting skills, from Seol Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, and Ryu Seung-beom to Yamada Takayuki, Shiina Kippei, Kim Sung-oh, Kasamatsu Sho, and Yamamoto Nairu, expectations are rising for the acting ensemble filled with both experience and freshness.

Meanwhile, 〈Good News〉 has received rave reviews from the media and critics since the Toronto International Film Festival. "A thrilling twist and a feast of diverse characters! Director Byun Sung-hyun has mobilized all his cinematic weapons for a thrillingly enjoyable journey" (Toronto International Film Festival programmer Giovanna Fulvi), "Byun Sung-hyun's most ambitious work, an incredibly funny and brilliantly satirical piece! Amidst the madcap events, the actors deliver fantastic and multi-layered performances with finely tuned chemistry" (Screen Daily), "An enjoyable farce that you can't help but get drawn into! Director Byun Sung-hyun crafts an energetic story that maintains the tone of comedy while building tension. Every punchline hits hard" (Next Best Picture), "Dramatic performances, clever twists, and a delightful and captivating comedy that blends lively editing and camera work" (critic Matt Neglia). The flood of praise heightens expectations for 〈Good News〉, which vividly depicts twists and irony in tense situations with a new style of direction.

With a unique direction and unpredictable developments that have garnered acclaim from the public and critics alike, director Byun Sung-hyun's film 〈Good News〉 promises fresh fun through the intense acting synergy of the actors who will portray the conflicts of unique characters. It will be released on Netflix on October 17.