Park Chan-wook‘s next film, “No Other Choice,” is a loose remake of Costa Gavras’ “The Ax,” which Park has been trying to make for nearly two decades.
Production, which began in late August, officially wrapped on January 20. A first image of the film was unveiled at the time (via Naver).
Last week, Park attended an event which celebrated the 25th anniversary of his classic action movie, “Joint Security Area.” The cast was also in attendance. Suffice to say, he managed to give a brief update on “No Other Choice” which he he is “hopeful” will be at Cannes in May, but in his words, it would depend on if he can finish post production on time. He has less than four months to hit the submission deadline.
”No Other Choice” stars as Cha Seung Won, Park Hee Soon, Yoon Ga Yi, Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin. Notably, Lee already teamed up with Park on 2000’s “Joint Security Area” and 2004’s “Three Extremes.”
The story follows a desperate and unemployed man, seeing his marriage deteriorating, who concocts a grimly audacious plan to identify and kill his fellow job applicants so that he is the only qualified person left.
The film, described as Park’s “lifelong passion project,” will be his first outing since 2022’s acclaimed “Decision to Leave.” He also co-created, wrote and directed the recent acclaimed 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 psychological violence of its characters. Park loves to depict sex and murder.