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Director Na Hong-jin of 'HOPE', an official selection in the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, answers questions from journalists during a press conference held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 18 (local time). / EPA·Yonhap News

Director Na Hong-jin open up about his film 'HOPE', which has emerged as the most talked-about title in the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival.

During the official press conference for 'HOPE' held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 18 (local time)—the day after the official screening—Director Na remarked, "I found myself reflecting deeply on the root causes of various social problems, including crime and violence." He added, "While 'The Wailing' leaned into supernatural and religious themes, this time the scope expanded all the way into outer space. As a result, extraterrestrial elements naturally entered the narrative, marking the inception of this film."

He further shared, "I wanted the movie to feel primitive rather than modern. To achieve that texture, the project required computer-generated (CG) creatures coupled with highly demanding, intense action sequences from the actors that might seem contrasting at first, so I had to meticulously persuade, trick, and lure them into it." He confessed, "Since I wanted the CG to have a retro feel, I collaborated with numerous designers over an extended period. We ended up generating so many concepts that by the time we reached a point where it was almost impossible to distinguish whether we had chosen the absolute best design or not, that was when we finally made the decision."

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From left, Taylor Russell, Jung Ho-yeon, Zo In-sung, director Na Hong-jin, Hwang Jung-min, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender of 'HOPE'—an official selection in the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival—attend a photocall at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 18 (local time). / EPA·Yonhap News

Set against the backdrop of Hopo Port—a small, remote village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the 1980s—'HOPE' depicts a brutal and desperate struggle for survival between humans and extraterrestrials. Immediately following its premiere, the film polarized critics, drawing high praise from several international media outlets for its fast-paced action sequences while simultaneously facing criticism over the quality of its CG.

When asked about the ending, which hints at a potential sequel, Director Na responded, "I have already written some of the subsequent story, and I do want to make it. I will work hard to create that opportunity." However, he added, "At the same time, I believe the ending of 'HOPE' possesses a sense of completeness in itself. As a cost for that definitive conclusion, I now find myself in a bit of a crisis where I have to rewrite the narrative that follows."

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Michael Fassbender (left) and Alicia Vikander, a married couple who star as extraterrestrials in 'HOPE'—an official selection in the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival—attend an official press conference held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 18 (local time). / EPA·Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Hollywood star Michael Fassbender of the 'X-Men' series—who portrayed an extraterrestrial in the film while concealing his actual appearance through motion-capture and face-capture technologies—drew laughter when asked about his decision to join the project by replying, "Because my wife (Alicia Vikander) encouraged me to do it together." Shifting to a more serious tone, he expressed his satisfaction, noting, "Director Na always blends diverse genres, such as reality, comedy, and the bizarre, within a single piece, which allowed me to have a highly rare cinematic experience as an actor."

Vikander, well-known to South Korean audiences for her roles in 'The Danish Girl' and 'Jason Bourne', said, "The first international film festival I ever experienced was the Busan International Film Festival back in 2010, where I fell in love with Asian cinema." She added, "Later on, I watched Director Na's 'The Chaser' and loved it so much that it completely blew me away. So, when I received an offer a few years later to star as an alien in his sci-fi project, I gladly accepted it."

Having wrapped up all its official itineraries in Cannes, 'HOPE' is scheduled to hit local theaters in South Korea this coming July.