Rights to “I, The Executioner,” which will premiere as a Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival this year, have been picked up by South Korea’s Cj Enm.
The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”
Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”
Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.
“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...
The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”
Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”
Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.
“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...
- 4/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Parasite” director Boon Joon-ho led a press conference in Seoul on Friday, following the death by suicide of actor Lee Sun-kyun at the end of December.
Lee, who starred in “Parasite,” had been investigated by police in Incheon for possible recreational use of drugs and was at the center of a maelstrom of media and social media commentary for the two months prior to his death.
Backed by a formidable collection of artists, cultural organizations and trade associations, Bong called for an investigation into the police methods and for established media to reflect on the sensationalist coverage which may have contributed to Lee’s decision to take his own life. Public broadcaster Kbs was singled out for particular criticism.
“Clear legislative improvements are needed to ensure that principles and exceptions are not reversed between the human rights of suspects and the public’s right to know, and that investigative authorities...
Lee, who starred in “Parasite,” had been investigated by police in Incheon for possible recreational use of drugs and was at the center of a maelstrom of media and social media commentary for the two months prior to his death.
Backed by a formidable collection of artists, cultural organizations and trade associations, Bong called for an investigation into the police methods and for established media to reflect on the sensationalist coverage which may have contributed to Lee’s decision to take his own life. Public broadcaster Kbs was singled out for particular criticism.
“Clear legislative improvements are needed to ensure that principles and exceptions are not reversed between the human rights of suspects and the public’s right to know, and that investigative authorities...
- 1/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
A light comedy with a touch of social commentary and a stellar cast, “Familyhood” is a work by the young South Korean director Kim Tae-gon who has a background in indie and horror films. It was very well received in South Korea and it probably marked a turning point in his career. In fact, his latest work “Project Silence”, starring the late Lee Sun-Kyun, premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2023 and is one of the most anticipated films of 2024.
The story focuses on the character of Go Joo-yeon (Kim Hye-soo), a beautiful and rich actress/diva who is reaching what in show business is considered a critical age, close to the career “sunset”, i.e. her forties. Go continues to work, having not yet faced any blatant failure to secure parts in films and advertisings; however, her fame as an actress is gradually being concealed by her reputation as a...
The story focuses on the character of Go Joo-yeon (Kim Hye-soo), a beautiful and rich actress/diva who is reaching what in show business is considered a critical age, close to the career “sunset”, i.e. her forties. Go continues to work, having not yet faced any blatant failure to secure parts in films and advertisings; however, her fame as an actress is gradually being concealed by her reputation as a...
- 1/5/2024
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” has died in an apparent suicide, South Korean police told NBC News on December 27. He was 48.
Lee’s body was discovered December 27 by authorities in his car parked on a street in northern Seoul. Police were searching for Lee after his family reported him missing, per NBC News. A cause of death hasn’t officially been ruled upon, but Lee reportedly left a message similar to a suicide note before his disappearance, and a charcoal briquette, commonly used in South Korea to induce suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, was discovered in the passenger seat.
In the U.S., Lee was best known for his work in Bong Joon-Ho’s 2019 class satire “Parasite.” In the film, Lee plays Park Dong-ik, a wealthy man whose family is unknowingly the target of a poorer family’s schemes for employment.
Lee’s body was discovered December 27 by authorities in his car parked on a street in northern Seoul. Police were searching for Lee after his family reported him missing, per NBC News. A cause of death hasn’t officially been ruled upon, but Lee reportedly left a message similar to a suicide note before his disappearance, and a charcoal briquette, commonly used in South Korea to induce suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, was discovered in the passenger seat.
In the U.S., Lee was best known for his work in Bong Joon-Ho’s 2019 class satire “Parasite.” In the film, Lee plays Park Dong-ik, a wealthy man whose family is unknowingly the target of a poorer family’s schemes for employment.
- 12/27/2023
- by Wilson Chapman and Erin Strecker
- Indiewire
A few years ago, actor Lee Sun-kyun had a major role in a film that made history: director Bong Joon-ho’s dark comedy thriller Parasite, which racked up multiple Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. It was the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. But now Lee’s life has come to a tragic early end. South Korea’s emergency office has confirmed that Lee has passed away at the age of 48, and it’s suspected that he committed suicide.
As Deadline notes, since October Lee had been “under investigation after drug use allegations amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal drugs by the South Korean government. Local news service Yonhap reported that Lee had been questioned multiple times by authorities, including for 19 hours this past weekend. The actor had said he was tricked into taking drugs.” Lee...
As Deadline notes, since October Lee had been “under investigation after drug use allegations amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal drugs by the South Korean government. Local news service Yonhap reported that Lee had been questioned multiple times by authorities, including for 19 hours this past weekend. The actor had said he was tricked into taking drugs.” Lee...
- 12/27/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Lee Sun-kyun, a South Korean actor best known internationally for his performance in Parasite, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, in Seoul, The New York Times reports. He was 48.
Lee’s body was found in a parked car, not long after his manager had reported him missing. Authorities are investigating his death as a suicide, and say the actor left what appears to be a suicide note. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Prior to his death, Lee had been under investigation as part of a probe into illegal drug use.
Lee’s body was found in a parked car, not long after his manager had reported him missing. Authorities are investigating his death as a suicide, and say the actor left what appears to be a suicide note. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Prior to his death, Lee had been under investigation as part of a probe into illegal drug use.
- 12/27/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The South Korean star was facing an investigating into alleged drug use.
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, star of Oscar-winning film Parasite, has died aged 48.
Lee was found dead in car at a park in central Seoul on Wednesday morning, according to news agency Yonhap and the Associated Press. Police had been searching for the actor after his family reported that he had left home after writing what appeared to be a suicide note.
He had been under investigation by the police since October over allegations over illegal drug use. Lee himself had reportedly brought details to authorities, claiming he...
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, star of Oscar-winning film Parasite, has died aged 48.
Lee was found dead in car at a park in central Seoul on Wednesday morning, according to news agency Yonhap and the Associated Press. Police had been searching for the actor after his family reported that he had left home after writing what appeared to be a suicide note.
He had been under investigation by the police since October over allegations over illegal drug use. Lee himself had reportedly brought details to authorities, claiming he...
- 12/27/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Lee Sun-kyun, a South Korean actor who starred in the Oscars’ 2020 best picture winner “Parasite,” died Wednesday morning, according to the Associated Press and the South Korean news agency Yonhap. He was 48.
He was found dead in a car in a park in central Seoul, according to the AP. Police had been looking for Lee after his family claimed he wrote a suicide note and left home early on Wednesday.
Lee had recently been under police investigation for alleged illegal drug use. South Korea’s Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency had been investigating Lee and seven other people over alleged drug use; Lee claimed to be the victim of blackmail by another person being investigated and allegedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to extortion.
In 2020, “Parasite” won four Academy Awards, including best picture, director for Bong Joon Ho, original screenplay and international feature film for South Korea. The “Parasite” cast,...
He was found dead in a car in a park in central Seoul, according to the AP. Police had been looking for Lee after his family claimed he wrote a suicide note and left home early on Wednesday.
Lee had recently been under police investigation for alleged illegal drug use. South Korea’s Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency had been investigating Lee and seven other people over alleged drug use; Lee claimed to be the victim of blackmail by another person being investigated and allegedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to extortion.
In 2020, “Parasite” won four Academy Awards, including best picture, director for Bong Joon Ho, original screenplay and international feature film for South Korea. The “Parasite” cast,...
- 12/27/2023
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Lee Sun-kyun, star of Oscar-winning Korean film “Parasite,” is being investigated by police over his alleged drug use, Korean news media report.
“Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency had begun an investigation into eight people, including the actor and the offspring of a chaebol [major family-controlled conglomerate], over allegations they took illegal drugs multiple times this year,” the publicly-owned Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday afternoon.
The news outlet also reported that “while the police have not officially named Lee as a suspect, they are said to have discovered a lead in connection with the actor’s illegal activities.” There has been no explanation of what substances Lee is alleged to have used.
Lee’s agency Hodu&u, put out a statement addressing the allegations. “We sincerely apologize for causing concerns over reports about actor Lee Sun-kyun. We are checking the veracity of the suspicions raised against Lee, and will fully cooperate with any future police investigation,...
“Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency had begun an investigation into eight people, including the actor and the offspring of a chaebol [major family-controlled conglomerate], over allegations they took illegal drugs multiple times this year,” the publicly-owned Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday afternoon.
The news outlet also reported that “while the police have not officially named Lee as a suspect, they are said to have discovered a lead in connection with the actor’s illegal activities.” There has been no explanation of what substances Lee is alleged to have used.
Lee’s agency Hodu&u, put out a statement addressing the allegations. “We sincerely apologize for causing concerns over reports about actor Lee Sun-kyun. We are checking the veracity of the suspicions raised against Lee, and will fully cooperate with any future police investigation,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
"Killing Romance" is an utterly amusing Korean absurdist comedy with romance, a revenge murder plot, and even musical numbers, in a clear love letter to the work of Wes Anderson. Add in some wonderfully over-the-top performances and a weird and hilariously campy script and you get one of the most fun times you can have at the movies.
The movie follows Yeo-rae (Lee Ha-nee), a woman who is shot straight to stardom after a clip of her drinking a soft drink at incredible speed goes viral, resulting in a Guinness World Record, merchandising, modeling deals, and a music and movie career. Sadly, this all comes crashing down when she stars in a disastrous sci-fi B movie that becomes a big flop. This prompts Yeo-rae to leave Korea in disgrace, finding refuge in the remote island of Qualla. Here, she meets an eccentric rich guy named Jonathan Na (Lee Sun-kyun) they instantly hit it off.
The movie follows Yeo-rae (Lee Ha-nee), a woman who is shot straight to stardom after a clip of her drinking a soft drink at incredible speed goes viral, resulting in a Guinness World Record, merchandising, modeling deals, and a music and movie career. Sadly, this all comes crashing down when she stars in a disastrous sci-fi B movie that becomes a big flop. This prompts Yeo-rae to leave Korea in disgrace, finding refuge in the remote island of Qualla. Here, she meets an eccentric rich guy named Jonathan Na (Lee Sun-kyun) they instantly hit it off.
- 10/2/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Text written on June 6, 2023 by Jean-Marc Thérouanne
Asia in the juries :
Franco-Afghan writer and director Atiq Rahimi was the only Asian member of the prestigious jury at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
Fench-Cambodian director Davy Chou was the only Asia-related member of the Un Certain Regard jury
Davy Chou
Shlomi Elkabetz was the only member of the short film jury and the Cinef with a connection to geographical Asia.
Asia in the selections:
Asia, from the Near to the Far East, was present with 31 features and 13 shorts in all the official and parallel sections of the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
In compétition :
– China: Youth (Spring) by Wang Bing
– Japan: Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu,
Kim Dong-ho, Hirokazu Koreeda
– Turkey: About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan,
and The Pot-au-feu by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung and Wim Wenders' Perfect Days, set in Japan.
Out of compétition :
– Korea: Cobweb by Kim Jee-won,...
Asia in the juries :
Franco-Afghan writer and director Atiq Rahimi was the only Asian member of the prestigious jury at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
Fench-Cambodian director Davy Chou was the only Asia-related member of the Un Certain Regard jury
Davy Chou
Shlomi Elkabetz was the only member of the short film jury and the Cinef with a connection to geographical Asia.
Asia in the selections:
Asia, from the Near to the Far East, was present with 31 features and 13 shorts in all the official and parallel sections of the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
In compétition :
– China: Youth (Spring) by Wang Bing
– Japan: Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu,
Kim Dong-ho, Hirokazu Koreeda
– Turkey: About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan,
and The Pot-au-feu by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung and Wim Wenders' Perfect Days, set in Japan.
Out of compétition :
– Korea: Cobweb by Kim Jee-won,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Fogs, dogs and toxic smogs are just the headliner adversities hurled at the motley band of misfits determined to survive Kim Tae Gon’s “Project Silence,” by no means a classic in the Korean action-thriller pantheon, but a good enough stopgap for a rainy Sunday until the next one comes along. Set on a cataclysm-prone Seoul highway bridge with suspension cables, like those of our disbelief, destined at some point to snap, Kim’s screenplay — co-written with Park Joo Suk and Kim Hong Hwa — cleaves so close to disaster-movie formula it’s hard to believe it needed three human screenwriters to gin it up. Given that its most lunatic flourish is the addition of dozens of slavering government-engineered superdogs, maybe it was partially generated by algrrrithm.
At some point there evolved in the genre a pretty hard-and-fast rule stating that chaos in the falling-masonry department can only be justified if...
At some point there evolved in the genre a pretty hard-and-fast rule stating that chaos in the falling-masonry department can only be justified if...
- 5/23/2023
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
"Have you heard of the Silence Project?" Cj Entertainment has revealed a first look teaser trailer for the film Project Silence, a new fantasy disaster thriller / survival creature feature from Korea. The film is premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival this month in the Midnight section, one of their annual Korean thriller picks to show each year. The plot of Project Silence takes place on the bridge connecting Incheon Airport to the mainland, where a bunch of people are desperately fighting for their survival. As the bridge threatens to collapse after an accident, an "unknown beast" is unleashed. That's all the short synopsis says - though this teaser hints that the "beast" is really multiple beasts. They're dogs? Perhaps manufactured super killer dogs? The ensemble cast features Lee Sun Kyun, Ju Ji Hoon, Kim Hie Won, Moon Sung Geun, Ye Su Jeong, Kim Tae Woo, Park Hee Von, Park Ju Hyun,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Korean feature, set to play in Midnight Screenings, has sold to North America and across Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Cj Enm has pre-sold Cannes Midnight Screenings title Project Silence to a slew of territories led by North America and German-speaking markets (Capelight Pictures) and Japan (Happinet Phantom Studios).
Directed by Kim Tae-gon (Familyhood) and produced by Kim Yong-hwa of the hit Along With The Gods franchise, the Korean disaster action drama stars Lee Sun-kyun from Parasite, who will also be seen in Critics’ Week title Sleep at Cannes.
Project Silence also sold to French-speaking territories (Kmbo), Latin America (Sun Distribution...
Cj Enm has pre-sold Cannes Midnight Screenings title Project Silence to a slew of territories led by North America and German-speaking markets (Capelight Pictures) and Japan (Happinet Phantom Studios).
Directed by Kim Tae-gon (Familyhood) and produced by Kim Yong-hwa of the hit Along With The Gods franchise, the Korean disaster action drama stars Lee Sun-kyun from Parasite, who will also be seen in Critics’ Week title Sleep at Cannes.
Project Silence also sold to French-speaking territories (Kmbo), Latin America (Sun Distribution...
- 5/16/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
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