Actress Jung Ho-yeon, who gained global fame through
Squid Game
, is set to make her feature film debut in director Na Hong-jin's
Hope
.
Hope
begins when Bum-seok, the chief of the Hope Harbor police outpost near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), hears from local youths that a tiger has appeared. As the entire village is placed on high alert, they are confronted with an unbelievable reality. The film generated explosive buzz during its world premiere in the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
In
Hope
, Jung Ho-yeon plays Sung-ae, a police officer in Hope Harbor who diligently does her job no matter the situation. With a clear sense of right and wrong, she takes relentless action against those who cross the line.
For this role, she learned how to handle firearms and practice shooting stances even before filming began. To perform her own car chase scenes, she went as far as obtaining a Class 1 driver's license and undergoing rigorous drift training. As a result, she personally executed the thrilling car chases, drifts, and gun action, adding powerful energy to the film.
Jung Ho-yeon expressed high satisfaction with taking on action acting, sharing, "While filming, I felt like I was reaching a point beyond my limits, which made it incredibly fun."
During the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Sung-ae's first appearance on screen drew applause and cheers from the audience, and the reaction to Jung Ho-yeon's fresh charm was highly enthusiastic.
Screen Rant
highlighted her performance, noting, "From her very first appearance, she shows a powerful presence in many ways."
The Hollywood Reporter
praised her, writing, "In her feature film debut, Jung Ho-yeon displays an impressive presence, skillfully handling everything from action to comedic timing." Additionally,
The Wrap
commented, "Jung Ho-yeon commands the screen with understated charisma and delightful energy, leaving the impression of meeting a new movie star."
International Business Times
also highly praised her for injecting strong energy into the film, stating, "She shows an unyielding youthful spirit even amidst the gruesome chaos."
Formerly a model, Jung Ho-yeon shot to global stardom overnight with the 2021 Netflix series
Squid Game
. Since then, she has continued her international career, including appearing in the Hollywood series
Disclaimer
, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. However, her signature work remains the
Squid Game
series. Attention is now focused on whether Jung Ho-yeon can redefine her career with
Hope
, which is raising expectations for its release while garnering significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Considered one of the most highly anticipated films of 2026,
Hope
will hit theaters this summer.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)