Acclaimed South Korean Director Na Hong-jin Brings Hope to San Diego Comic-Con with Exclusive Footage and Special Panel

One of South Korea’s most celebrated filmmakers is heading to San Diego Comic-Con International for the very first time.

Acclaimed director Na Hong-jin will make his Comic-Con debut with a special panel celebrating his latest feature, Hope, following the film’s acclaimed world premiere in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The panel promises to give fans an exclusive look at one of this year’s most anticipated genre films, including never-before-seen footage and an in-depth discussion with the visionary filmmaker behind The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, and The Wailing.

Joining Na for the event will be international breakout star Hoyeon, best known worldwide for her performance in Squid Game. Hoyeon will introduce the panel before Na takes the stage to discuss the decade-long journey of bringing Hope to life.

A Monster Epic Unlike Anything Else

Set in the isolated fishing village of Hope Harbor, Hope begins with the appearance of a mysterious creature that terrorizes the local community.

As police officers and hunters venture into the wilderness to eliminate the beast, they quickly discover that they have become the hunted. As fear spreads throughout the village and reality itself begins to unravel, the residents realize they are facing something far more terrifying than anyone could have imagined.

Described as a monster sci-fi epic on a grand scale, Hope quickly became one of the most talked-about premieres at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, generating significant buzz among critics and international audiences.

The film is scheduled to receive a theatrical release in the United States this September through Neon.

A Passion Project Ten Years in the Making

In a statement ahead of his Comic-Con appearance, Na expressed his excitement about introducing the film to American genre fans.

“It is an honor to join the legendary list of panelists at Comic-Con. There’s nowhere else quite like it. I’m excited to share my work and introduce one of the greatest audiences in the world to our new film HOPE, a passion project ten years in the making. I hope you’ll join me before it arrives in U.S. theaters in September. See you in San Diego!”

For longtime fans of Na’s work, the panel represents a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of modern Korean cinema’s most influential storytellers while getting an exclusive preview of a film that has been over a decade in development.

Continuing a Remarkable Career

Na Hong-jin has built an international reputation by blending psychological suspense, action, horror, and dark humor into unforgettable cinematic experiences.

His feature debut, The Chaser (2008), premiered Out of Competition at the Cannes Film Festival before becoming both a critical and commercial phenomenon in South Korea. The film went on to finish as the country’s third highest-grossing film of the year while earning numerous awards and introducing global audiences to Na’s distinctive filmmaking style.

He followed that success with The Yellow Sea (2010), an intense action thriller that made history as the first Korean film to receive direct investment from a major Hollywood studio.

Na further cemented his status as one of the world’s premier genre filmmakers with The Wailing (2016), widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films of the past decade. Like his previous work, the film premiered at Cannes and earned widespread critical acclaim for its unsettling atmosphere, layered storytelling, and unforgettable performances.

Now, nearly ten years later, Na returns with what many are already calling his most ambitious project yet.

North American Premiere Set for New York

Following its Comic-Con presentation, Hope will continue its North American rollout as the Centerpiece Film at the New York Asian Film Festival, where Na Hong-jin will also be honored with the Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to the genre.

A Must-See Comic-Con Panel

For fans of international cinema, science fiction, horror, and monster movies, Na Hong-jin’s Comic-Con debut is shaping up to be one of the convention’s most exciting and unique presentations.

With exclusive footage, insights into the creation of Hope, and appearances by both Na Hong-jin and Hoyeon, attendees will have the opportunity to experience one of 2026’s most anticipated films months before its theatrical release.

If the reaction at Cannes is any indication, Hope could be one of the year’s biggest breakout genre films—and Comic-Con attendees will be among the first audiences in North America to step inside its mysterious and terrifying world.