Yeon Sang-ho’s new film "The Ugly" has been presold to 157 countries worldwide.
The thriller centers on Im Young-gyu (Kwon Hae-hyo), a visually impaired master of seal engraving, and his son Im Dong-hwan (Park Jung-min) as they unravel a 40-year-old mystery surrounding the death of their wife and mother. The cast also features Shin Hyun Been and Im Sung-jae.
"The Ugly" is headed to the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where it will screen in the Special Presentations section and hold its world premiere on Sept. 9 (local time).
Riding global curiosity for the filmmaker behind the smash hit "Train to Busan," the title will open first in Korea on Sept. 11, then roll out to international markets in stages.
North and South America, key European territories including France and Russia, and major Asian markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong are among the regions that have snapped up the film.
Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA ― which handled the North American releases of "Train to Busan" and "Peninsula" ― said in a statement, “I’ve long been a fan of Yeon Sang-ho and was honored to bring his earlier films to North American audiences. With 'The Ugly', his big-screen return after Peninsula, his bold, genre-blending vision reaffirms why he’s one of the most exciting filmmakers working today. We’re thrilled to partner again and present 'The Ugly' to fans across the U.S. and Canada.”
"The Ugly" opens in Korea on Sept. 11.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)