How Ari Aster, Yorgos Lanthimos Remade a Korean Sci-Fi Classic

When CJ Leisure, the manufacturing crew behind Jang Joon-hwan’s Save the Inexperienced Planet, obtained the concept of remaking the 2003 cult Korean sci-fi comedy, they didn’t anticipate it to get so massive.

This was earlier than the discharge of Bong Joon-ho’s multi-Oscar winner Parasite, earlier than Korean cinema exploded worldwide and earlier than CJ Leisure grew to become one of many greatest international manufacturing outfits with its 2022 acquisition of Endeavor Content material (now Fifth Season).

“[CJ ENM] was kind of an unknown manufacturing firm from a marginalized place then,” mentioned Jerry Jerry Ko, head of CJ ENM’s movie division, talking at a discussion board on Navigating the New Paradigm on the 2024 Busan Worldwide Movie Competition.

“We began out with the idea that the movie’s idea was forward of its time and that [maybe we] may make an indie film, however as we traveled round Hollywood, we realized that there have been many hidden followers of the unique movie. I occurred to be in L.A. and noticed Ari Aster moderating a screening of Save the Inexperienced Planet at a theater, so I reached out to him and requested him to be part of the manufacturing. So he got here on board as a producer,” Ko mentioned. “Then Will Tracy, a screenwriter of Succession, got here on board and wrote the story. The excitement began to construct from then on. Later Yorgos Lanthimos and a few nice actors got here on board.” 

Bugonia is at present in manufacturing, with Lanthimos’ common collaborator Emma Stone starring alongside her Sorts of Kindness co-star Jesse Plemons. The Hollywood remake was a singular collaboration with a significant Korean producer-distributor, developed by CJ ENM and Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen’s Sq. Peg banner. Common Photos’s imprint Focus Options will co-finance and distribute the film internationally, excluding Korea. Focus will bow the movie extensive within the U.S. on Nov. 7 subsequent yr.

Save the Inexperienced Planet was launched in Korea in 2003 and has continued to be acknowledged by critics and audiences on the pageant circuit. The Hollywood remake tells the story of two conspiracy theory-obsessed protagonists who kidnap a CEO of a significant pharmaceutical firm, satisfied that he’s an alien out to destroy the planet. 

“We began the venture with the intention of reviving director Jang’s sense of creativeness, which was forward of its time and was not absolutely appreciated 20 years in the past,” mentioned Ko. “The movie developed into an even bigger film than we initially thought. By getting individuals on our aspect who understood the movie’s potential, we had been in a position to create buzz.”

Ko, who leads the manufacturing of Korean movies at CJ ENM, additionally argued that Korean storytelling is standard globally as a result of native creators are good at dealing with hybrid genres, creating recent and flavorful tales and visuals. 

“It’s engaging as a result of it has cultural uniqueness whereas speaking with a common cinematic language that’s accessible to Hollywood filmmakers,” Ko mentioned. “Now we have been exploring numerous methods for international publicity equivalent to Hollywood remakes, and localization of hit IPs. If Korean creators give you tales that they will do properly, we assist them increase abroad in a manner that fits the character of every work.” 

On the Busan pageant discussion board, CJ ENM additionally touted different titles from its 2025 lineup , together with director Park Chan-wook’s new movie No Different Alternative (working title), a collection adaptation of the movie Fabricated Metropolis, and Means Again Love, scheduled to launch on Korean streamer Tving within the first half of subsequent yr.