| A scene from the upcoming comedy fantasy film “Dolittle” which will premiere on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Universal Pictures |
By Lee Gyu-lee
The 100th year of Korean cinema in 2019 wrapped up successfully with record-breaking annual ticket sales at over 226.6 million, grossing 19 billion won ($16.6 million). As moviegoers bid farewell to 2019, streams of new films are expected to bring in further abundance to the cinema this year.
From comedy to science fiction and action blockbusters, diverse genres of films are anticipated to compete in the local box office throughout the year.
| A poster for the new comedy film “Hitman,” starring actor Kwon Sang-woo, which is premiering on Jan. 22. Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment |
The beginning of 2020 will get the ball rolling for comedy films. Three animal-themed comedy films "Dolittle," “Secret Zoo,” and "Mr. Zoo,” will be released starting on Jan. 8, a week apart from each other.
Universal's comedy-fantasy “Dolittle” is about Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), who has an ability to communicate with animals as he goes on a journey to find a cure for the queen on a mysterious island. The film is making the world premiere in Korea on Jan. 8.
“Secret Zoo” revolves around a bankrupted zoo where its animals were sold off to pay debts. To save the place from closing, the zoo's temporary owner Tae-soo (Ahn Jae-hong) and employees decide to dress up in animal suits.
Another comedy film “Mr. Zoo” is about a top national security agent, Tae-ju (Lee Sung-min) using his ability to read animals' minds to carry out a rescue mission against a terrorist organization.
Actor Kwon Sang-woo's new comedy “Hitman” is also premiering on Jan. 22. He plays a former secret service agent who left the job to become a webcomic creator. As his webcomic series becomes popular, he becomes a double target of the service and terrorists.
Hollywood blockbuster series to arrive
| A poster for the latest 007 film “No Time to Die,” which is set to hit local theaters on April 9. Courtesy of Universal Pictures |
Actor Daniel Craig's fifth film in the 007 series “No Time to Die” is set to hit local theaters April 9. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film follows playboy spy James Bond (Daniel Craig) as he goes on a mission to fight a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
DC Comics' superhero film “Wonder Woman” (2017) is releasing its sequel “Wonder Woman 1984.” Led by the series' director Patty Jenkins, the action film will follow Princess Diana (Gal Gadot) in 1984. The film will be released this June.
A prequel to the “Kingsman” series, “The King's Man” will unfold the Kingsman's battle against a group of tyrants and criminal masterminds during World War I to tell the origin of the Kingsman secret agency. The spy action film will have the series' filmmaker Matthew Vaughn as director, and actors Taron Egerton and Colin Firth as the lead characters. The U.S and U.K premiere is scheduled in September.
Korean sci-fi, fantasy genre films await
Two Korean sci-fi films with working titles “Victory” and “Seo Bok” are scheduled to be released in the later half of this year. Directed by Jo Sung-hee ― who made “A Werewolf Boy” in 2012 ― the space movie “Victory” is an over-24 billion won ($20.8 million) budget project. The film is about a space crew ― actors Song Joon-ki, Kim Tae-ri, and Yu Hae-jin ― traveling in a spacecraft of the same name. VFX pioneering company Dexter Studio, which produced the “Along with the Gods” series and “Ashfall,” took charge of the film's visual effects production.
“Seo Bok” revolves around the world's first human clone (Park Bo-gum) who holds the secret to eternal life. Directed by Lee Yong-ju ― the director of 2012 melodrama “Architecture 101” ― the film also stars Gong Yoo as a former intelligence agent.
Korean zombie flick “Train to Busan” (2016) will release its sequel this year, telling the story of survivors fighting to leave the abandoned city. Actors Gang Dong-won and Lee Jung-hyun take the lead roles, and the director of the first series, Yeon Sang-ho, will lead the production once again.
The release dates for these three films are yet to be determined.