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Park Chan-wook, lauded for masterpieces like Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and the Cannes-winning Decision to Leave, is back with his long-awaited twelfth feature called No Other Choice. Based on the dark 1997 novel The Ax by Donald Westlake, this tense horror thriller spotlights a middle-aged man, Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), who spirals into moral darkness in a desperate struggle to support his family after losing his job at a paper company where he had worked for 25 years (via Deadline).

Co-starring Crash Landing on You star Son Ye-jin as his determined wife, Mi-ri, the film will also star Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo Yeon-seok in prominent roles. With a script from Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, and Jahye Lee, the film will be produced by Moho Film, Kg Productions, and with Cj Group executive producing.

The film will have its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival on September 17 (via The Hollywood Reporter). Moreover,...

Busan — The 30th Busan International Film Festival has chosen Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” as its opening film, scheduling the world premiere for the September 17-26 showcase in the southern port city. Festival organisers said the pick embodies “what audiences most hope to see” and can “invigorate Korean cinema” as the event marks its milestone year.

The 139-minute thriller adapts Donald Westlake’s novel The Ax and tracks Man-su, a middle-aged worker whose desperate hunt for a new job grows lethal after he is sacked from a paper company. Lee Byung-hun headlines opposite Son Ye-jin, joined by Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min and Yeom Hye-ran.

Lee will also become the festival’s first male solo host when he emcees the opening ceremony at Busan Cinema Center. Festival director Jung Han-seok called unveiling Park’s first feature since Decision to Leave “deeply moving” for an edition that underlines Busan’s growing international reach.

Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, will open to Busan International Film Festival (Biff), running from September 17 to 26.

After winning Best Director at Cannes in 2022 for Decision to Leave, Park is set to premiere his newest film at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, with Biff securing the Asian premiere.

No Other Choice follows Man-su (played by Lee Byung-hun) in his desperate struggle to secure his wife, Miri (Son Ye-jin), their two children, and his hard-earned home. Once highly satisfied with his achievement-filled life, Man-su faces sudden dismissal from his job and begins preparing for his own war of survival.

The black comedy thriller is based on the novel “The Ax” by Donald Westlake.

The Busan International Film Festival is marking its milestone 30th edition this year, with veteran actor Lee also serving as the host for the festival’s opening ceremony.

The film’s cast also includes Park Hee-soon,...

No Other Choice, the highly anticipated dark comedy thriller by South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook, has been set as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (Biff).

The film, which stars Squid Game’s Lee Byung-hun, will receive its Asian premiere at the landmark edition of the festival on September 17 after receiving its world premiere in competition at Venice.

It marks the first feature in three years from director Park, whose noir melodrama Decision To Leave premiered in Competition at Cannes in 2022, winning best director. He has since made US drama series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey Jr. for HBO.

Director Park Chan-wook’s return to the screen three years after “Decision to Leave” (2022), “No Other Choice” follows Man-su (Lee Byung Hun) in his desperate struggle to secure his wife, Miri (Son Yejin), their two children, and his hard-earned home. Once highly satisfied with his achievement-filled life, Man-su faces sudden dismissal from his job and begins preparing for his own war of survival.

This year’s Opening Ceremony host, actor Lee Byung Hun, stars as Man-su, a job seeker embarking on a war for reemployment, while renowned actress Son Yejin plays Miri, a woman determined to protect her family at all costs. Starring as a couple for the first time, the two leads are joined by an exceptional cast including Park Hee soon, Lee Sung Min, Yeom Hye Ran, Cha Seung Won. With its gripping narrative, signature mise en scène, and meticulous production values, the film depicts one man’s...

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (Biff) has selected Korean auteur Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” as its opening film, marking the acclaimed director’s return to the big screen three years after “Decision to Leave” (2022) for which he won best director at Cannes.

The film stars Lee Byung-hun (“Squid Game”) as Man-su, a man whose comfortable life unravels when he’s suddenly dismissed from his job, forcing him into a desperate struggle to protect his wife Miri (Son Yejin), their two children, and their home. The story follows Man-su as he embarks on what the festival describes as “his own war of survival.”

Lee, who will also serve as host of this year’s opening ceremony, teams with Son Yejin for their first on-screen pairing as a married couple. The cast also includes Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won.

Park described the project as a...

Arguably, there was no other choice…. The Busan International Film Festival has selected the latest wildly anticipated feature from Korean maestro Park Chan-wook to open its landmark 30th edition on Sept. 17. A black-comedy survival thriller starring Korean leading man Lee Byung-hun, Park’s 12th feature, No Other Choice, will have its world premiere in competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival before heading to Korea’s biggest cinema event for its Asian debut.

No Other Choice stars Lee and beloved Korean actress Son Ye-jin as a married couple struggling to hold their family together amid mounting economic desperation. The film follows Man-su (Lee), a once-content middle-class family man who is abruptly laid off from his job, sending him into a spiral of anxiety and desperation. As he scrambles to regain employment and preserve the life he’s built, his wife Miri (Son) becomes equally determined to protect their children and home at any cost.

Oscars 2026: Korean Films In Race With Harbin, Omniscient Reader, Dark Nuns & More (Photo Credit – Prime Video/Instagram)

After the massive global success of Parasite and Minari, the upcoming 98th Academy Awards might see a few more Korean films in the running for nominations. The Korean Film Council has revealed that 19 films have been submitted for the Oscars 2026 in the International Feature Film category and are currently under review.

The list includes Lee Min-Ho and Ahn Hyo-Seop’s recently released film Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, Lee Byung-Hun and Son Ye-Jin’s No Other Choice, Hyun Bin’s Harbin, and more. Here are the 19 Korean films that are up for consideration—read on!

Oscars 2026: The 19 Films That Are Submitted Omniscient Reader: The Prophet The Old Woman With The Knife Spring Night About Family The Killers The Ugly Yadang: The Snitch Love in the Big City Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning...

El filme competirá por el León de Oro en Venecia. © Neon

Ya se ha publicado el primer tráiler y un precioso póster de No Other Choice, lo nuevo del director surcoreano Park Chan-wook, responsable los títulos de culto Oldboy, The Handmaiden y Decision to Leave.

El filme adapta The Ax, la novela de Donald E. Westlake publicada en 1997, que ya fue llevada al cine por Costa-Gavras en 2005. Park anunció su intención de dirigir esta historia hace más de una década, allá por 2009, pero fue retrasándola debido a otros compromisos, entre ellos el largometraje en inglés de 2012 Stoker y su trabajo en las series de televisión The Little Drummer Girl y The Sympathizer. Pero, ya está aquí.

No Other Choice sigue a la estrella de El juego del calamar, Lee Byung-hun, en el papel de un hombre de mediana edad, Man-su, que, tras ser despedido de la empresa donde ha trabajado durante 25 años,...

Korean entertainment giant Cj Enm is doubling down on its commitment to Asian storytelling with the launch of First Light StoryHouse, a new label designed to elevate Asian and Asian American narratives on the global stage.

The venture was conceived and will be jointly overseen by three founding partners: Cj vice chair Miky Lee, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang, who recently completed her tenure as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and Dominic Ng, chair and CEO of East West Bank.

Operating under Cj Enm’s new Asian Content Initiative, First Light StoryHouse will focus on identifying, developing and supporting authentic Asian and Asian American stories across film and scripted television. The label plans to invest early in the development phase, serving as co-producer to help bring market-ready projects to fruition before securing partnerships with studios, production companies and streaming platforms.

“Recent successes...

Lee Byung-hun might be tempted by violence after getting the axe in the new teaser for Park Chan-Wook’s pitch-black thriller No Other Choice.

Neon will release the film in theaters this fall after its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

No Other Choice is an adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s mystery thriller The Ax and follows “a man who is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. He grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work, eventually coming to a life-altering decision.”

The novel’s synopsis might give a clearer idea of the madness ahead: “Burke Devore is a middle-aged manager at a paper company when the cost-cutting ax falls, and he is laid off. Eighteen months later and still unemployed, he puts a new spin on his job search — with agonizing care, Devore finds the seven men in...

Neon has dropped the teaser for Park Chan-wook‘s 12th feature, No Other Choice, an adaptation of Donald Westlake’s 1997 novel, The Ax. Notable for playing a key role in the globalization of Korean cinema with releases like Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, the director, who must’ve been disappointed after Decision to Kill’s Oscar snub, is now eyeing history with his next movie.

Starring Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin in the lead, the teaser seems pretty on brand for Chan-wook’s works, meaning we could’ve another psychologically intense experience on our hands.

Oldboy Director Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice Promises Another Unhinged Experience

The teaser stars Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin in the shoes of the husband and wife, whose livelihoods are threatened after the former is fired from the paper company. Following his struggle to land any other work, he opts to eliminate his competition,...

Among the bigger premieres announced for this year’s Venice Film Festival is Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice (Neon will handle the U.S. release) and ahead of which comes a brief, staccato teaser that hints at Donald E. Westlake’s source material The Ax. Adapting the 1997 novel (which Costa-Gavras first filmed in 2005) the black comedy thriller follows a man laid off from the paper company he worked at for 25 years. Some time later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition. Adapted by Park, Lee Kyung-mi, Don McKellar (The Sympathizer), and Lee Ja-hye (Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden), it features Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo Yeon-seok.

“I think it’s been about 17 years since I started writing the script for this movie. I’m so touched that I’ve finally finished filming the work...

Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” is nearly here.

The latest film from the South Korean auteur behind “Oldboy,” “The Handmaiden” and most recently “Decision to Leave,” will debut in competition at the Venice International Film Festival, followed by a South Korean theatrical release and a domestic release courtesy of Neon.

A new teaser trailer out Thursday gives us a good sense of what we’re in for. Watch it below.

“No Other Choice” is an adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel “The Ax,” which had previously been adapted by Costa-Gavras for 2005’s “The Axe.”

Park announced his intention to direct an adaptation back in 2009, but it kept getting pushed back due to other commitments, including 2012’s English language feature “Stoker” and his work on television series “The Little Drummer Girl” and “The Sympathizer.” At one point, the adaptation was going to be English language and he tasked his...

Park Chan-wook’s upcoming crime saga “No Other Choice” was considered one of the major omissions from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. But the South Korean auteur’s twelfth feature, which was reportedly not ready in time for Cannes, appears to be making up for lost time with a fall festival run.

Neon has released the first teaser for Park’s new film, which stars “Squid Game” villain Lee Byung-hun and Korean actress Son Ye-jin as a married couple whose lives take a dark turn after he is fired from a paper company and struggles to find other work. The dark comedy is adapted from prolific mystery author Donald Westlake’s 1997 novel “The Ax.”

“No Other Choice” was acquired by Neon in June, with IndieWire previously reporting that the film was expected to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. A fall release date could put it on the road to...

When 16-Year-Old Poonam Dhillon Said No to a Bikini in Trishul and Stuck to Her Values (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Poonam Dhillon is one of the finest actresses in Bollywood. Poonam made her debut in 1978 with Yash Chopra’s Trishul and has a career spanning over four decades. Some of her notable films include Kala Patthar, Dard, Karma, among others. However, did you know that at the age of 16, Poonam strictly stood by her principles by refusing to wear a bikini? Read on to know more.

Poonam Dhillon Was Asked To Wear Bikini

In a conversation with Ani, Poonam Dhillon shared an incident when Yash Chopra asked her to wear a bikini for a song shoot, and refused to wear it because she was uncomfortable. Dhillon shared, “Yash Chopra said we are going to shoot a scene at the Oberoi’s hotel swimming pool. They brought some bikinis for me, and...

“No Other Choice” is a new action ‘dark comedy’ feature, directed by Park Chan-wook (“Old Boy”), starring Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won and Yoo Yeon-seok, releasing September 2025 in theaters:

“…a man is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. He grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work…

“…and eventually he comes to a certain decision…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

"In America, getting fired is called 'getting the axe'... We say, 'it's your neck.'" Surprise - Neon has unveiled a teaser trailer for the new Korean dark comedy from the brilliant Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, his latest feature film since making Decision to Leave back in 2022. No Other Choice is the title of his new one, which is based on the 1997 novel called "The Ax" written by Donald Westlake. A fresh new murderous tale from one of the great Korean masters of dark & depraved thrills! Here's the quick intro to this sneaky setup: After being laid off and unemployed for several years, a man devises a unique plan to finally secure a new job: eliminate his competition. Starring Lee Byung-hun as Man-soo, along with Son Ye-jin, Yeom Hye-ran, Park Hee-soon, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Cha Seung-won. This first teaser + magnificent new poster are debuting just after it was revealed that...

Less than a month after Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice landed international distribution at Mubi and Neon in North America, the South Korean pic has a trailer and a release date.

The tense Korean-language video sees Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun under stress, constantly tapping his veiny forehead as he seeks answers to his problems. Guns, knives, lighters and cop cars are seen during a series of intense fast cuts. Both the trailer and a new poster reveal a September release date has been set.

Poster for ‘No Other Choice’ Cj Enm

The film follows Lee as middle-aged man Man-su, who embarks on a determined job hunt after being unexpectedly fired from the paper company that he worked for 25 years and eventually comes to a desperate decision. Son Yejin (The Last Princess) leads the cast alongside him.

Park Hee-soon (My Name), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran...

Nearly a month has passed since Squid Game wrapped up its third and final season on Netflix, yet fans are still talking about how everything concluded for Gi-hun and the rest of the characters they grew to love. One of those characters was brought to life by breakout star Jo Yu-ri, whose unforgettable performance as Kim Jun-hee in seasons 2 and 3 captured audiences worldwide and launched her into the spotlight.

Now, the amazingly talented actress is ready to take on her next big challenge. She's set to star in a new Korean drama series for Netflix titled Variety. This will be her second Netflix project, following her breakthrough performance in Squid Game. Based on what's been revealed about this series so far, Jo will be playing a much different role than what we've seen from her before.

Jo Yu-ri At Netflix's Squid Game S3 New York Premiere | Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyImages

This...

Ahaan Panday’s Saiyaara Vs Son Ye-Jin’s A Moment To Remember(Photo Credit –Facebook/Netflix)

Mohit Suri brings back the magic of the romantic dramas onscreen after years with Saiyaara. It features debutant Ahaan Panday and a fresh face Aneet Padda. It hit the theatres on July 18, 2025, and within the first weekend since its release, it has already smashed the box office. While the appreciation and excitement around the movie keep on buzzing, many people pointed out that they felt this was a copied version of a South Korean movie named A Moment To Remember.

For those who don’t know, A Moment To Remember is a Korean film starring Jung Woo-Sung and Son Ye-Jin in the lead. The storyline of the film revolves around Su-Jin, who gets diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease. How her love story with Chul-Soo gets tested when her condition gets...

Following the massive success of KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, Netflix is understandably continuing to invest in Korean content. Netflix is the distributor of many popular K-dramas, but this genre and related content have truly taken off in recent years.

Squid Game became a rare phenomenon when it debuted on the streamer in 2021, and in its subsequent seasons, gave stars such as former K-pop idol Jo Yu-ri major acting breakthroughs. Meanwhile, this summer, Netflix has been taken by storm asKPop Demon Hunters maintains the top spot on streaming charts.

While KPop Demon Hunters presents a fantasy and family-oriented take on the world of K-pop, Netflix just announced an upcoming series that could act as a replacement. Via X, Netflix revealed that the new series Variety, following Crash Landing On You's Son Ye-jin as an executive in the K-pop industry and Jo Yu-ri as an obsessive fan, is in development.

Following the success of Squid Game, Netflix has shown an increased interest in K-content and recently announced a new K-drama called Variety. Created by the Mask Girl creator Kim Yong-hoon, the recently announced drama will have A-lister and Crash Landing on You fame Son Ye-Jin and Squid Game’s Jo Yu-ri lead the drama.

Set in the world of K-pop, fan expectations are already high given the cast and crew. Here’s what we know so far about Variety and why this could be one of the year’s most compelling dramas.

Variety Joins Mask Girl Director With Son Ye-Jin and Jo Yu-ri Son Ye-jin | Credits: Crash Landing on You / Netflix

Renowned director Kim Yong‑hoon, who shot to international fame with Netflix’s 2023 hit Mask Girl, is fronting an ambitious new thriller K‑drama titled Variety. Known for his ambitious storytelling and crime stories rooted in slow-burn tension, his...

Netflix is adding another splashy series to its Korean originals slate with Variety, a K-pop industry drama starring Crash Landing on You headliner Son Ye-jin and rising actor-idol Jo Yu-ri, best known for her breakout turn in Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3.

The upcoming series comes from director Kim Yong-hoon, the filmmaker behind Mask Girl, one of Netflix’s surprise Korean hits of 2023. The black comedy thriller spent four consecutive weeks on the streamer’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV list, peaking at No. 1 in its second week.

Variety marks a stylistic shift for Kim. He’ll be trading in the gritty neo-noir crime world of his breakthrough, Beasts Clawing at Straws, for the high-gloss, high-pressure domain of K-pop super-stardom. The series will explore the tensions, ambitions and fraught relationships between industry power players, the stars and their obsessive fandoms.

From left: Jo Yu-ri, Kim Yong-hoon and Son Ye-jin at a Netflix table read for Variety.

Jo Yu-ri and Son Ye-jin are set to star in a new Netflix series together!

The streamer just announced that the Squid Game and Crash Landing On You stars will team up for a new series called Variety, set in the world of K-pop, according to Variety.

Keep reading to find out more…

Yu-ri will star as an obsessive fan who will do whatever it takes to meet her favorite idol, while Ye-jin will play an entertainment executive risking everything to revive an idol group she personally created.

Variety comes from the creator of Mask Girl, Kim Yong-hoon, and “aims to examine the complex dynamics between industry executives and fans.”

If you didn’t know, Yu-ri is actually also a singer and was a part of the South Korean-Japanese girl group Iz*One, which was together from 2018-2021.

This news come hot off the heels of the Netflix animated hit Kpop Demon Hunters!

Mubi has acquired all rights to No Other Choice, the latest film from South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave), for Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Benelux (in concert with Cinéart), Spain, Turkey, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Saarc.

The news comes following word yesterday that Neon is handling the film’s North American release.

Based on the novel The Ax by Donald E. Westlake, No Other Choice follows a middle-aged man named Man-su who embarks on a determined job hunt after being unexpectedly fired from the paper company that he worked for 25 years.

Park directed from a script written with Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar and Jahye Lee. Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil) and Son Yejin (The Last Princess) lead a cast that also includes Park Hee-soon (My Name), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran (The Glory), Cha Seung-won (Believer) and Yoo Yeon-seok (Mr. Sunshine).

Producers...

Mubi has acquired rights to Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice for a good chunk of the world, including Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Benelux, Spain, Turkey, India, Australia/New Zealand, and South East Asia. Cinéart will handle the theatrical release in Benelux in partnership with Mubi.

The acquisition follows Neon’s announcement yesterday that it had secured North American rights to the film. Mubi and Neon have been sympatico on several arthouse titles this year. In Cannes, Mubi nabbed multiple international rights on Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent, and Oliver Laxe’s Sirat, all of which Neon has for domestic release.

No Other Choice, currently in post-production, is based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax. The cast is led by Korean stars Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game) and Son Ye-jin (A Moment to Remember), and features Park Hee-soon,...

Mubi has landed distribution rights to Park Chan-wook’s upcoming dark comedy No Other Choice in multiple territories.

The company has secured all rights to South Korean feature in Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Benelux, Spain, Turkey, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Saarc. Cinéart will release the film theatrically in Benelux in collaboration with Mubi.

The deal was revealed just a day after Neon announced it had picked up rights for North America and ahead of a long-rumoured selection for Venice.

It marks the second time Mubi has handled a film by Park, having previously released Cannes award-winner Decision To Leave...

Mubi is reuniting with “Decision to Leave” filmmaker, Park Chan-wook, on his upcoming film, “No Other Choice,” which is currently in post-production and is strongly tipped for a world premiere in competition at Venice.

The global streamer, distributor and producer has bought the film for Latin America, U.K., Ireland, Benelux, Spain, Turkey, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Saarc. Cinéart will release “No Other Choice” theatrically in Benelux. Neon has bought it for North America.

Mubi has a history with Chan-wook. The company entered North America three years ago by theatrically distributing the Korean auteur’s twisty romantic thriller “Decision to Leave” which became his highest-grossing movie in North America, surpassing “Stoker” and “The Handmaiden.” Mubi had also released the movie in multiple international territories.

Park’s 12th feature, “No Other Choice” is based on the 1997 novel “The Ax” by Donald Westlake. It follows a man (Lee) who is abruptly...

Park Chan-wook is one of the world’s most sought-after filmmakers, and Neon wants to be at the head of the table when he serves up something new. On Thursday, Neon announced its reteaming with Park Chan-wook for his next feature film, No Other Choice. Neon holds the North American rights to No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin as husband and wife alongside an ensemble cast including Park Hee-soon (My Name), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran (The Glory), Cha Seung-won (Believer 1&2), and Yoo Yeon-seok (Mr. Sunshine).

“No Other Choice, Park’s 12th feature, is based on the 1997 novel The Ax by Donald Westlake. It follows a man (Lee) who is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. He grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work, eventually he comes to a certain decision,” says Neon’s official press release.

Neon has reteamed with Korean director Park Chan-wook and Parasite studio Cj Enm by taking the North American rights to the violent comedy thriller No Other Choice.

Korean film royalty Lee Byung-hun and Son Yejin star in the thriller about Man-soo (Lee), who is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. Man-soo grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work, and eventually resolves to kill his job competitors.

Son plays Man-soo’s wife, the warm-hearted Mi-ri in the latest film from Korean cinema to reflect beyond a core narrative the Asian country’s underlying economic and political tensions. Chan-wook’s 12th movie is an adaptation of American novelist Donald Westlake’s 1996 novel The Ax.

Westlake’s novel was previously adapted into French by Costa Gavras as the 2005 film Le Couperet (The Ax). The ensemble cast for Chan-wook’s Korean adaptation includes Park Hee-soon,...

Neon has acquired North American rights to “No Other Choice,” the next film from South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook, the distributor announced Wednesday.

Park’s 12th feature has been in the works for quite some time and only wrapped production in January, but we referred to the film nevertheless as a snub for the Cannes lineup in May (where he previously won Best Director for “Decision to Leave” in 2022), but a source tells IndieWire the film is expected to now premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

“No Other Choice” stars Lee Byung-hun, best known as the villain in “Squid Game,” and Son Ye-jin (“The Last Princess”) as a husband and wife. After the husband is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years, he grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work. It’s based on a 1997 novel by Donald Westlake called “The Ax,...

South Korea’s master of moral ambiguity and visual splendor, Park Chan-wook, marks another milestone in his storied career as Neon secures North American rights to his darkly comic thriller No Other Choice, ahead of its anticipated Venice Film Festival premiere. The distribution deal was recently confirmed by Variety, Screen Daily, and Korea‑centric film outlets.

From Page to Park

Adapted from Donald Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax (and separate from Costa‑Gavras’s adaptation), No Other Choice follows Lee Byung-hun as Man‑soo, an ordinary man thrust into desperation after losing his long-held job. Over five intense months of filming (Aug 2024–Jan 2025), Park and his team, including Son Ye-jin and Park Hee-soon, built a razor-sharp narrative blending job‑market anxieties with unexpected moral darkness.

This marks Park’s 12th feature—his first high-profile foray into black comedy since Decision to Leave—and viewers are already bracing for his signature mix of emotional intensity,...

Neon has acquired the North American rights to No Other Choice, the latest feature from acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook.

Based on Donald E. Westlake‘s 1997 novel The Ax, the black comedy thriller is expected to world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August.

Lee Byung-hun (“Squid Game”) stars a man who is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. He grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work, eventually coming to a life-altering decision.

Son Ye-jin (“Crash Landing on You”), Park Hee-soon (“Squid Game”), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran (“The Glory”), Cha Seung-won (Night in Paradise), and Yoo Yeon-seok (“When the Phone Rings”) also star.

Chan-wook co-wrote the script with Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee (Uprising), and Don McKellar (Blindness).

No Other Choice is produced by Chan-wook and Back Jisun of Moho Film and Michèle Ray Gavras and Alexandre Gavras of Kg Production,...

Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” has found a North American distributor.

Neon has acquired the North American rights to the South Korean auteur’s latest, which is expected to premiere later this year at Venice.

“No Other Choice” is based on Donald Westlake’s 1997 novel “The Ax.” It follows a middle-aged man who is laid off from his longtime job and becomes increasingly desperate. When he discovers the other people who are up for the same position he starts … thinning out the competition. The novel was previously adapted in 2005 by Costa-Gavras (his daughter is one of the producers of the new film).

Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin play the husband and wife, with a supporting cast that includes Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won and Yoo Yeon-seok.

Neon and Cj Enm previously teamed on “Parasite,” which was a critical darling and awards powerhouse, eventually becoming the first...

Neon has taken North American rights to No Other Choice, the next movie from Park Chan-wook.

The project puts Neon back in business with the Korean filmmaker, the label having recently handled the helmer’s re-release of 2003’s Oldboy.

No Other Choice is Park’s 12th movie, and it’s based on the 1997 novel The Ax by Donald Westlake. It follows a man (Squid Game‘s Lee Byung-hun) who is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. He grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work and eventually comes to a certain decision.

Son Yejin co-stars as the man’s wife alongside an ensemble cast including Park Hee-soon (My Name), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran (The Glory), Cha Seung-won (Believer), and Yoo Yeon-seok (Mr. Sunshine).

No Other Choice is produced by Park...

Neon is reteaming with Park Chan-wook and Cj Enm and has acquired North American rights to the South Korean auteur’s upcoming dark comedyNo Other Choice, which has been tipped to premiere in Venice.

Neon will plan an awards run on the filmproduced by Cj Enm Studios and Park’s Moho Films and financed by Cj Enm. It is currently in post.

Lee Byung-hun from Squid Game and I Saw The Devil stars as a middle-aged man fired from a paper company after years of service who goes on a killing spree to eliminate his competition.

Lee is joined by Son Ye-jin,...

Neon has bought North American rights to “No Other Choice,” the upcoming movie by Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (“Decision to Leave”) which is expected to world premiere at Venice.

Park’s 12th feature, “No Other Choice” is based on the 1997 novel “The Ax” by Donald Westlake. It follows a man (Lee) who is abruptly laid off by the paper company where he worked tirelessly for many years. He grows increasingly desperate in his hunt for new work, eventually he comes to a certain decision.

The film stars Lee Byung-hun (“I Saw the Devil“) and Son Yejin (“The Last Princess“) are set to star as husband and wife alongside an ensemble cast including Park Hee-soon (“My Name”), Lee Sung-min (“The Spy Gone North”), Yeom Hye-ran (“The Glory”), Cha Seung-won (“Believer”) and Yoo Yeon-seok (“Mr. Sunshine”). The deal reteams Neon and Cj Enm following the release of “Parasite” which broke ground as...

When it comes to rom-com Kdramas with a little bit of suspense and adventure on the side, nothing can come close to Crash Landing on You. While it was heartwarming to see Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin fall in love for real behind the scenes, the drama also delivered an unforgettable villain arc.

In fact, it almost came this close to echoing one of cinema’s most iconic betrayals: Scar pushing Mufasa off the cliff in the Oscar-winning Disney classic, The Lion King. While the stakes were high, Se-hyung failed to deliver a chilling betrayal, proving he is more of a coward than cunning.

Crash Landing on You Had the Potential to Echo The Lion King Mufasa’s final moments | Credits: The Lion King (1994) / Disney

Crash Landing on You brought us one of the most romantic, heart-warming, and epic love stories in the history of Kdramas. The series is centered...

The 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival has selected actor Lee Byung-hun as the featured guest for this year’s Actor in Focus, titled The Master: Lee Byung-Hun.

Photo courtesy of Bh Entertainment

A true master of his craft, Lee has demonstrated exceptional range across genres both on screen and off, earning recognition as a global artist and one of Korea’s most iconic actors—hence the title The Master: Lee Byung-hun for this year’s Actor in Focus.

This year’s Actor in Focus will present ten films spanning Lee Byung-hun’s remarkable 30-year acting career: Joint Security Area (2000), Bungee Jumping of Their Own (2001), A Bittersweet Life (2005), Once in a Summer (2006), I Saw the Devil (2010), Masquerade (2012), Inside Men (2015), The Fortress (2017), The Man Standing Next (2019), and Concrete Utopia (2023).

Lee’s rise as a screen icon began early, with unforgettable performances in films like Joint Security Area, Bungee Jumping of Their Own,...

Hyun Bin Dons Classic Black Suit In Drama ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

It’s been years since we saw Hyun Bin in a K-drama. He was last seen in Crash Landing On You alongside his now-wife, Son Ye-Jin. Now, the first look of Made In Korea is out and creating ripples online. After his marriage in 2022, even though the actor featured in a film, Harbin, which grossed quite well at the box office, he was missing from the television industry. But he is back at it with the political drama, Made In Korea, and his fans are going gaga about it.

What Is Made In Korea Really About?

Made In Korea is going to be a political drama driven by a power struggle. Set against the 1970s Korea, the storyline will revolve around two men who get stuck in a razor-thin line of power, struggle, ambition, politics, and justice. The first...

Park Hyung-Sik, Brand Reputation Rankings, April 2025 ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Every actor puts their hard work and dedication into portraying the intricate details of the characters they are playing in a drama or a movie. The competition is too high and complicated in present times, as with each passing day, the popularity of Korean entertainment is growing. Now, April’s brand reputation rankings for actors have been released, and here’s who ranked in what position.

This year’s list featured names like Park Hyung-Sik, Lee Byung-Hun, Gong Yoo, and more. Scroll ahead to find out.

The Korean Business Research Institute (Via Soompi) revealed the actor brand reputation ranking based on a data analysis of the media coverage, participation, interaction, and community indexes of 100 actors who appeared in dramas, movies, or Ott content released between March 22 and April 22. The top 30 names have been listed for this year’s month of April.

Lee Jung-Hyun talks about her past relationship(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Lee Jung-Hyun, over the years of her career, gained a lot of appreciation for her roles, like in the film Train to Busan presents Peninsula. She has also worked on other projects, including Parasyte: The Grey. She is friends with many Korean stars, including Son Ye-Jin, Gong Hyo-Jin, and Lee Min-Jung. She not only excelled in the acting industry but also made a mark in the musical world with her dynamic presence. She is often called the ‘Lady Gaga of Korea’.

Now, even though she is enjoying a blissful married life with a surgeon, Yoo Jung-Park, who is three years younger than her, Jung-Hyun faced quite a painful heartbreak in her past relationship. In one conversation, she opened up about her past and shared how her love life has not always been beautiful and peaceful.

When Lee Jung-Hyun appeared on KBS2 TV’s show,...

So many shows live and die by the quality of the love story at their core and this is especially true of K-dramas, as Korean television steadily gains popularity worldwide. The K-drama term is a blanket one applied to scripted South Korean television of any genre and, more often than not regardless of genre, these shows find time for romance. With flawlessly beautiful main characters and soap operatic stakes, often in the best way, it's easy to see the appeal of a good romantic K-drama. With Netflix's library of fantastic K-dramas growing rapidly, there are plenty of Korean love stories to choose from on the streaming service.

True to the malleability of the K-drama term, the series on this list range from the usual romantic comedies to period piece fare and outright melodrama. With such a wide variety in shows and genres to choose from, there is a love...

Netflix has lined up its next high-profile Korean drama series — and this one could get steamy. Currently given the working title Scandals, the show will be an adaptation of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which reimagined the promiscuous world of the classic French novel Dangerous Liaisons within the context of Korea’s Joseon era. The show will be led by a star-studded cast including Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You), Ji Chang-wook (Welcome to Samdal-ri) and Nana, aka Im Jina (Mask Girl). It has already started shooting in Seoul, South Korea.

Directed by K-drama mainstay Jung Ji-woo (Somebody, Tune in for Love), Scandals revolves around a daring and dangerous love game between the remarkable, high-born Lady Cho (Son) and Cho Won (Ji), the era’s greatest playboy —with the conflicted young widow Hui-yeon (Nana) unknowingly entangled in the middle.

A sumptuous re-creation of Korea’s Joseon era, Scandals “brings to...

Netflix has confirmed the production of an upcoming Korean series, Scandals (working title), which will star Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You), Ji Chang-wook (Welcome to Samdal-ri) and Nana (Mask Girl).

Based on the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, the story reimagines the world of the French novel “Dangerous Connections” in the context of the Joseon era. Scandals features a cast of characters who seek to challenge the strict order of society, while engaging in a game of love and temptation.

“Dangerous Connections” was written by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, and Untold Scandal was directed by E J-yong and starred Bae Yong-joon, Jeon Do-yeon and Lee Mi-sook. Untold Scandal was the fourth-highest-grossing domestic film of 2003.

In Netflix’s Scandals, top Korean actress Son will take on the role of Lady Cho, a woman of talent and charm who attempts to go against the limitations placed on women and makes a secret bet of love.

V In The First Frost ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

It’s known to everyone that the South Korean boy band BTS has been ruling globally for the last few years. They enjoy a massive audience while slowly expanding their influence all over the world. From doing international tours to attending global events, they are everywhere. However, the recent speculated appearance of V in a Chinese drama left the fans’ minds blown.

X (previously known as Twitter) has been flooded with netizens’ reactions as they believe they saw Taehyung’s cameo appearance in the popular ongoing C-drama, The First Frost. Even though there’s no confirmation from the artist yet, eagle-eyed fans believe they know what they saw. Scroll ahead to find out.

A snippet from episode 26 of The First Frost went viral on social media platforms, where the female lead Wen Yi Fan’s phone showed a contact V1 Kang while texting Sang Yan.

Did Kim Sae-Ron’s old talk about Kim Soo-Hyun in an older interview?(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Following the malicious contents posted by Garo Sero Research Institute, controversies erupted regarding Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Sae-Ron’s relationship. The late actress’s aunt allegedly blamed Queen of Tears’ actor for her death and even claimed that they were dating when she was just a minor. Apparently, she was 15 years old, whereas the actor was 27 years old, and they continued the relationship for 6 years till 2021.

For the unversed, on February 16, 2025, Kim Sae-Ron was found dead at her apartment in Seoul. She committed suicide and was only 25 years old. However, amid all of these allegations, an old 2017 interview of the actress resurfaced where she spoke about Soo-Hyun. Scroll ahead to find out more.

In conversation with The Fact, the Bloodhounds actress talked about how she would love to take on a rom-com project and...

J-Hope & Nayeon Dance Challenge! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

In the last month, rumors were rife that BTS J-Hope and Twice Nayeon were in a romantic relationship. However, now, amid these speculations, their online interactions have fueled the reports even more, sparking reactions from netizens. For the unversed, both of them belong to the music industry and enjoy a massive fan following. They are known for their vocal skills and charismatic presence on stage.

Although these rumors have not been confirmed yet, netizens are quite excited to know what’s happening between them. Scroll ahead as their recent video clip went viral, making people believe the speculations about them dating.

Amid the dating rumors, when Nayeon, along with her Twice member Momo, took up J-Hope’s Sweet Dreams dance challenge and performed the song, it left netizens shocked. They thought it was a brave move to feature together in a video...

Why Is Crash Landing On You Star Son Ye-Jin’s Lavish Building Is Still Vacant? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

News1, a Korean media outlet, cited a real estate agency, Building Road, and claimed that Son Ye-Jin purchased a lavish building near Gangnam Station in 2022. She refurbished it in June last year, but it remains vacant. The popular Korean star upgraded the two-story building into a five-story structure to attract more tenants, but the vacancy has created a lot of buzz everywhere.

Ye-Jin, who got married to the love of her life and her Crash Landing On You co-star, Hyun Bin, entered into a new phase of motherhood after welcoming their son. However, her vacant building has been making headlines as she is gearing up to return to the screen after a long hiatus.

According to reports, in August 2022, Son Ye-Jin bought a property of 277.7㎡ (approx. 84 pyeong) with a two-story structure at the cost of 22.4 billion Krw.