‘Hope’ Official Photo Call & Press Conference at the 79th Cannes Film Festival Held in Great Success

The official photo call and press conference for 〈Hope〉, the film that was first unveiled to the world through its world premiere on the 17th, took place the following day, Monday, May 18. Ahead of the press conference, director Na Hong-jin, Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell—who appeared at the official photo call—answered the intense attention from the press with bright smiles and greetings. As actors representing Korea and Hollywood gathered in one place, media from around the world were buzzing with energy, and the cast of 〈Hope〉 led the atmosphere with a warm, lively, good-natured vibe. 



Director Na Hong-jin “〈Hope〉 is a story about just how far the problems in our world can grow”

Hwang Jung-min “As an actor, it was important to put my energy into showcasing my best imagination.”

Michael Fassbender “This film looks closely at the similarities between humans and aliens.”

Strong global interest in the work, with questions from media outlets worldwide continuing at the official press conference

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The official press conference at the Cannes Film Festival that followed was held in the Press conference room at the Palais des Festivals starting at 12:45 p.m., for about 40 minutes, with director Na Hong-jin and actors Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell in attendance. After visiting the festival in a row with 〈The Chaser〉(2008, Midnight Screening), 〈The Yellow Sea〉(2011, A Noteworthy View), and 〈The Wailing〉(2016, Non-Competition), the questions from media from each country poured in for director Na Hong-jin — who was visiting Cannes for four straight films with the competition title 〈Hope〉 — and for the actors who delivered standout performances. 

When asked about the story he wanted to tell through 〈Hope〉, director Na Hong-jin said, “When you think about why people commit crimes, why violence occurs, and what causes other social problems to arise, in 〈The Wailing〉 we even went into the supernatural and religious aspects—but this time, we went all the way to space. That is where this film begins.” He added, “This film is a metaphor for how certain problems, violence, incidents, and unfortunate things in the world happen—and how they grow. I wanted to explore whether things can actually grow that far, and if they can, how.”

Asked about his impressions of handling the intense action in the film, Hwang Jung-min said, “It wasn’t so much about the idea of physical difficulty. As someone taking on this kind of work for the first time, I felt that, as an actor, it was important to channel my best imagination and put my energy into it. I acted believing that an unknown being, not a person, would come along—so rather than being difficult, it actually felt fun and exciting to work.” Jo In-sung replied, “I think you need courage to create something new. I gathered my courage and went into the shoot with that mindset. There was the creator’s desire to show a new image and bring something fresh. The difficulty was more emotional than physical. I focused on how to convey this sense of fear to audiences, and beyond that, on how to express the life force that humans want to live with so that it can be felt and understood.” Jung Ho-yeon said regarding her impressions after completing the premiere screening at Cannes, “〈Hope〉 is my first film. In a theater this big and with such deep history, it was the first time I saw my own face so prominently—and honestly, I still feel like I can’t really explain in words what that emotion is. The first thing I thought of afterward was that I wanted to thank the director. He truly worked so hard to make it.”

Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender said, “Even the aliens want the same things as we do. So I think, ultimately, this film is about looking at the similarities between humans and aliens.” When asked what led him to join the project, Alicia Vikander said, “The first international film festival I visited was in Busan. That experience pulled me completely into Asian cinema. Watching 〈The Chaser〉, 〈The Yellow Sea〉, and 〈The Wailing〉 was absolutely overwhelming. That’s why, when director Na Hong-jin suggested I play an alien, I accepted without even hesitating. It’s an honor to be able to work alongside such an excellent and visionary director on this film.” Taylor Russell responded, “Director Na Hong-jin is truly a master of making astonishing films—beyond my wildest dreams. Being cast in one of his films was something I couldn’t even imagine. When the casting offer came, he kept making me smile throughout our entire conversation. I thought, ‘This is going to be a really fun journey,’ and it was a natural decision where there was no need to overthink.” Following the world premiere, which thrilled 2,300 people, and the press conference attended by major media outlets from abroad, the 〈Hope〉 has been fueling the atmosphere of the 79th Cannes Film Festival with intense excitement.

〈Hope〉 begins when “Beomsuk,” the field office director stationed at the Ho-po Port located in the Demilitarized Zone, hears from local young people that a tiger has appeared—and as the entire village is thrown into panic, the story kicks off when they encounter an unbelievable reality. With overwhelming immersion, a highly polished mise-en-scène, and outstanding directing, director Na Hong-jin—who has captivated audiences and critics alike—has spent years preparing this new film, 〈Hope〉, which is scheduled to meet audiences in theaters this summer.