Jon Favreau aims to bridge generations with ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’Director Jon Favreau is set to bring the iconic “Star Wars” franchise back to movie theaters for the first time in nearly seven years, aiming to capture both longtime fans and a fresh generation. The filmmaker emphasized that the franchise's latest installment, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” serves as a perfect gateway for newcomers. "It's my great pleasure to present 'Star Wars' to movie theaters for the first time in almost seven years. I hope this is an opportunity to introduce both new people to 'Star Wars,' but also an opportunity to engage with all the fans who've been there since the beginning,” Favreau said during an online press conference with Korean media on Thursday. The upcoming feature film serves as a big-screen continuation of "The Mandalorian" series, which first debuted in 2019. The story follows the lone bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) operating in the outer reaches of the galaxy, who forms a bond with a vulnerable, force-sensitive child named Grogu. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey across the stars. Favreau said that the immense gMay 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Yeon Sang-ho challenges AI era with zombie film ‘Colony’Director Yeon Sang-ho, who made his feature debut with the acclaimed 2011 animated film "The King of Pigs," has long been recognized by audiences for exploring human nature across various genres. His fans often point to his unstoppable work ethic as one of his greatest strengths as a creator. Just last year, Yeon directed "The Ugly," a low-budget film about lookism and human desire that became a surprise hit, surpassing the 1 million ticket sales milestone. The prolific filmmaker is returning to the big screen without taking a break with his latest post-apocalyptic zombie film "Colony." Having built a strong reputation in the zombie genre with hits like "Train to Busan" (2016) and "Peninsula" (2020), Yeon attempts to differentiate "Colony" from his previous works by introducing more intense, highly synchronized, dance-like zombie movements. The director introduced "Colony" as an easy and entertaining movie that audiences can enjoy without overthinking. True to his word, the film features a fast-paced, straightforward narrative. The story begins with biologist Young-cheol (Koo Kyo-hwan), cMay 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
InterviewGang Dong-won embraces high comedy, breakdancing in 'Wild Sing'Actor Gang Dong-won is ready to surprise audiences by showcasing a demanding physical transformation and a completely new side of his acting skills in the upcoming comedy film "Wild Sing.” Directed by Sohn Jae-kon, "Wild Sing" follows Triangle, a faded three-member idol group that attempts a comeback after 20 years out of the spotlight. Gang portrays Hyun-woo, the leader of the group, who transitions from a top idol to a struggling television personality. "When my close friends saw the teaser trailer, one of them jokingly asked me if I was running out of money because my character looked so desperate and funny," Gang said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Tuesday. Known for his sharp looks and diverse filmography, which includes hits like the fantasy action film "Jeon Woochi: The Taoist Wizard" (2009), the mystery thriller "The Priests" (2015) and the crime comedy "A Violent Prosecutor" (2016), Gang this time takes on a highly unconventional and humorous character. "The teaser generated a lot of buzz online, and the public reaction was incredibly passionate,May 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Why Hollywood stars played computer-generated aliens in 'Hope'Asked why he joined director Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller "Hope," actor Michael Fassbender had a simple answer: "Alicia told me to do it." The Hollywood star's joke drew laughs at a Monday press conference during the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where Fassbender, his wife Alicia Vikander and co-star Taylor Russell joined Na and the Korean cast — Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon — at the Palais des Festivals. When asked why three established Hollywood actors chose to play aliens, Fassbender pointed to the unpredictability of Na's direction. "I think what's kind of interesting about the filmmaking of director Na as well is you just don't know what's going to come next," Fassbender said. Contrasting Na's work with predictable genres like Westerns, he added that the feeling of the unexpected can be quite rare in a cinematic experience. "I think he's a master at that." Vikander said her interest in Asian cinema dates back to 2010. "My first ever film festival that I went to internationally was Busan. I was about 21," she said. "I stayed there for a few days and I just kind of fellMay 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
The breathless Korean sci-fi monster movie 'Hope' leaves the Cannes Film Festival flooredCANNES, France — Sprawling action movies with aliens do not generally compete for the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or. But Na Hong-jin's “Hope” is not your average science fiction. Few movies were more anticipated in Cannes . It's been 10 years since Na's last film, the well-regarded 2016 thriller “The Wailing.” While some of Na's fellow Korean genre masters, like Bong Joon Ho , have found global renown, for many cinephiles, Na is overdue for the kind of global introduction a Cannes premiere provides. But that doesn't mean that Na, a few hours before debuting “Hope,” was feeling at ease. “I’m really nervous,” the writer-director said in an interview alongside the Cannes beach. “I didn’t imagine it would be so nerve-wracking to be honest, to the point of not sleeping.” Na's movie, one of the most expensive Korean films ever made, certainly provides no rest. For two hours and 40 minutes, it takes a story that begins with the mysteriously scarred carcass of a dead bull and breathlessly and quite bloodily accumulates into a cosmically grand, audaciously gonzo sci-May 19, 2026By AP
'Hope' director says film was inspired by 'ominous' feeling about the worldNa Hong-jin, the director behind the sci-fi thriller "Hope," said the sense of looming danger he felt about the world inspired him to make the film that has been invited to compete at this year's Cannes Film Festival. "Hope" portrays the sudden appearance of mysterious entities in a small coastal town near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, with its star-studded cast including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. "Around the world, I felt there were a lot of ominous things in this planet where mankind lives," Na said in an interview held Monday on the sidelines of the film festival, which is under way through May 23. "It felt like that a war was about to happen, or that tremendous violence would mercilessly blanket the whole world," he said, noting that the film portrays how violence emerges and grows bigger. Na said he is extremely happy and feels honored about "Hope" making it to the competition section of the prestigious film festival. "I feel really good and joyous about the fact it made it on the list. I didn't realizeMay 19, 2026By Yonhap
Supernatural horror 'Salmokji' becomes most-watched Korean horror filmThe supernatural horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" has become the most-watched Korean horror film of all time, a title previously held by "A Tale of Two Sisters," data showed Monday. The film logged 90,972 admissions from Friday to Sunday, bringing its total audience number to 3.17 million, according to the data compiled by the Korean Film Council. The 2003 film "A Tale of Two Sisters" previously held the record at 3.14 million admissions. Premiering April 8, "Salmokji" follows a filming crew, led by Soo-in (Kim Hye-yoon), who travels to a location to complete a shoot within a deadline — only to find themselves sinking deeper into an inescapable, swamp-like terror as time runs out. The filming location, Salmokji, is a reservoir in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province, long rumored among locals to be a paranormal hotspot with a history of reported ghost sightings. Foreign films topped the weekend box office, with "Michael" leading the chart at 470,375 admissions, followed by "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "The Devil Wears Prada 2" with 123,558 and 120,545 admissions, respeMay 18, 2026By Yonhap
Park Chan-wook receives France's prestigious cultural honorRenowned filmmaker Park Chan-wook has received the highest cultural honor given by the French government, becoming the fourth Korean to receive the prestigious award. Park received France's Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters, the highest rank of the three-tier honor from the French Ministry of Culture, in a ceremony presided over by French Culture Minister Catherine Pegard on Sunday (local time), Reuters reported. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, where Park is leading the jury as the first Korean to assume the role. The festival runs through May 23 in the southern French resort city. Upon receiving the award, Park noted that his works have received tremendous influence from French films and philosophy, and said he is touched by how his works now seem to be influencing young French filmmakers. The auteur recalled how his 2004 Grand Prix win at Cannes, with the film "Oldboy," served as a major turning point and said ties with the film festival have continued for a long time. Park won the Jury Prize for "Thirst" in 2009 and recMay 18, 2026By Yonhap
Cannes gives standing ovation to new K-zombie film ‘Colony’CANNES — Yeon Sang-ho returned to the Cannes Film Festival with another zombie thriller, and audiences appeared fully hooked by a new twist on the globally popular “K-zombie” genre. At around 3 a.m. Saturday, more than 2,300 viewers inside Cannes’ Grand Lumiere Theater erupted into applause after the world premiere screening of “Colony,” Yeon’s latest film. The audience gave a standing ovation lasting about five minutes as Yeon and cast members Koo Kyo-hwan, Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-been and Kim Shin-rok greeted the crowd. “It is an honor to present ‘Colony’ at the Cannes Film Festival I had always dreamed of,” Yeon said after the screening. “The passionate support from the audience will remain a memory I cherish for a very long time.” The film was invited to the Midnight Screenings section of Cannes, a category known for unconventional genre works. Before the screening, director Park Chan-wook, who is serving as jury president for this year’s competition section, welcomed guests alongside Cannes delegate general Thierry Fremaux at the red carpetMay 17, 2026By Hankookilbo
Old gods in a new world: K-folk horror to binge after 'Salmokji'"Salmokji" recently surpassed 3 million ticket sales, becoming one of the most successful Korean horror films at the box office. In the film, a camera crew goes to Salmokji — a real reservoir in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province — to retake a set of road view photos, only to find themselves trapped and hunted by water ghosts. With its use of isolated countryside locations, historically documented ghosts and shamanistic imagery, "Salmokji" delivers a masterclass in Korean folk horror — a subgenre that focuses on traditional Korean curses and spirits, sometimes coexisting or in conflict with newer religious beliefs. Here is a list of some K-folk horror media to check out if you’ve watched "Salmokji" and find yourself wanting more. 1. "The Wailing" (2016) In "The Wailing," written and directed by Na Hong-jin, the remote village of Goksung experiences a spree of violent murders by residents who seem to have contacted a mysterious illness. While toxic mushrooms are blamed, rumors whisper of a Japanese hermit being the one responsible. When police officer Jong-goo's daughter, HyoMay 16, 2026By Kim Young-moo
