UPDATE: Korean media is now reporting that it’s called ‘The Ax’, a remake of Costa-Gavras’ French film of the same name, which Park has been trying to make for many years. Here’s the synopsis:
Bruno loved his job as a middle manager at a paper company, but optimistically views being laid off as an opportunity. After two years of searching for a comparable position, the optimism turns to desperation. His wife, Marlene, is working two jobs, and their marriage is deteriorating as their hold on the middle class slips away. Bruno concocts a grimly audacious plan to identify and kill his fellow job applicants so that he is the only qualified person left.
EARLIER: Park Chan-wook has set up his next film. It’s set to start production in the fall of 2024. Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin are in talks to star in Park's upcoming film. Notably, Lee already teamed up with Park in 2000’s “Joint Security Area” and 2004’s “Three Extremes.” This would be the first time Son has worked with the director.
The film, described as Park’s “lifelong passion project”, will be his first outing since 2022’s acclaimed “Decision to Leave.” He’s also co-creator, writer and directing the first three episodes of the upcoming HBO limited series “The Sympathizer.”
Park, 60, is the Korean mastermind behind “Oldboy,” “The Handmaiden” “Decision to Leave” and “Lady Vengeance.” His films, usually set in thriller or noir territory, delve deeply into the physical and/or psychological violence of its characters. Park loves sex and murder.
If all things go according to plan, Park’s upcoming film could premiere at Cannes 2025, which is already promising to be one hell of a showing — other filmmakers that could show up on the Croisette next year include Almodovar, Linklater, PTA, Malick, Trier, Zvyagintsev, Haynes, Mitchell, Weerasethakul, Verhoeven, Ramsay, Ramsay, Big Gan, Serra, Dardenne and Wes Anderson.