India release date and languages
South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin's sci-fi action thriller 'HOPE' is set to release in Indian theatres on September 25, 2026. The film will arrive in five languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Korean, according to India Today and The Times of India.
The India release follows a strong theatrical run in South Korea, where the film registered the biggest opening day for a Korean film in 2026, recording more than 330,000 admissions on its first day, as reported by The Times of India. India Today adds that the film crossed the four-million admissions mark and was released in premium formats including IMAX, Dolby Cinema, ScreenX, and 4DX.
Film background and cast
Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, 'HOPE' marks the filmmaker's return to feature filmmaking after nearly a decade, following his 2016 film The Wailing. His earlier works — The Chaser (2008), The Yellow Sea (2010), and The Wailing (2016) — were all selected for Cannes, and 'HOPE' premiered in Competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or, as both outlets report.
The film features a large international cast. Hwang Jung-min plays police chief Bum-seok, Zo In-sung stars as Sung-ki, and Hoyeon, who gained global recognition after Squid Game, plays officer Sung-ae. Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton are also part of the cast, according to India Today and The Times of India.
Story and director's vision
'HOPE' is set in Hope Harbor, a remote village near the Demilitarized Zone, and begins after reports emerge about a mysterious tiger in the area. What initially appears to be an unusual sighting soon throws the village into chaos, forcing police outpost chief Bum-seok to confront a reality beyond anything he had imagined, as described by The Times of India.
India Today adds that police chief Bum-seok and officer Sung-ae are left to defend the village after reinforcements are diverted to battle wildfires and communication with the outside world is cut off. Locals who head into the mountains to track the creature discover that they have become the hunted.
Speaking about the film, Na Hong-jin said: "With 'HOPE,' I wanted to create a film that begins with the primal fear of encountering an unknown creature and gradually expands into a story about survival, human instinct and the consequences of fear. We wanted the world of the film to feel both immediate and unpredictable, while also giving the audience the scale and spectacle of a large cinematic experience." The Times of India quoted the director's statement.
Budget and scale
'HOPE' has been reported to be the most expensive Korean film ever made, with its production budget estimated at more than 50 billion won — roughly 345 crore — according to India Today. Some reports have put the figure higher, at more than 70 billion won, or nearly 485 crore. The Times of India described the film as Korea's most ambitious and expensive production to date.
The project's distribution rights were reportedly sold in more than 200 countries and territories before its domestic release, and it reportedly recorded the highest overseas pre-sale amount in Korean film history, as reported by The Times of India. India Today also notes that distribution rights were sold in more than 200 countries and territories.