It’s been a long, silent stretch since Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” lit up Cannes back in 2018— seven years, to be exact. But the revered South Korean auteur of melancholic realism is ready to return behind the camera.
According to a new report out of Naver (via The Film Stage) Lee is gearing up to shoot his next feature, “Possible Love,” as early as this fall. The hope? To wrap production by mid-2025 and land a coveted Cannes 2026 premiere.
While plot details remain tightly under wraps (no surprise there), the cast is already stacked with heavy hitters. Jeon Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine), Seol Kyung-gu (Peppermint Candy), and Jo In-sung (Moving) are all attached. The film will reportedly be a Korean-French co-production, marking a notable cross-border collaboration for Lee.
Lee’s obsession with the moral ambiguity and existential haze of modern life has only deepened with time. And if “Possible Love” follows in the footsteps of his past work, expect a haunting, slow-burn meditation on contemporary alienation, told with the quiet intensity only he can deliver.
His last feature, 2018’s “Burning” —arguably his finest—capped a remarkable filmography that includes “Poetry,” “Secret Sunshine,” and “Peppermint Candy,” among other acclaimed works.
More details should be coming soon. Until then, the wait continues—for what might just be one of Cannes 2026’s most anticipated returns.