Gangs of London director Kim Hong-sun is making a Joseon-era martial arts film

The director who brought Korean-style punch to Season 3 of Gangs of London is heading home for a sword-swinging revenge story. Kim Hong-sun is shooting The Hit List, a martial arts film set in Korea's Joseon era, with Jung Woo-sung and Squid Game star Wi Ha-jun. Cameras started rolling in October.

What's the story?

The film adapts a Kakao webtoon (a popular Korean digital comic) that has drawn more than 120 million views. It follows Han Myeong-hoe, one of the most powerful men of the Joseon era, who climbed to the top through bloodshed.

Opposite him is Baek E-hwa, a woman who loses everything to Han and devotes her life to revenge. Han's right-hand man, Jang Gil-do, is a fearsome warrior in his own right.

Jung Woo-sung, whose credits include 12.12: The Day, Hunt and The Good, the Bad, the Weird, plays Han. Wi Ha-jun plays Grand Prince Suyang, who relies on Han's support in his bid to take the throne from his young nephew.

Why the British connection?

Kim brought some friends from London. Cinematographer Lars Cox, whose credits include House of the Dragon and The Witcher, is on board. So is gaffer (head lighting technician) Kieran Waites, who has worked on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and the Fast & Furious films. Both worked with Kim on Gangs of London.

Sales company Finecut, which unveiled the project, says the film pairs Korean storytelling with international production know-how, especially for its big action scenes and period world.

What's next?

This is Finecut's second project with Kim after Project Wolf Hunting. That 2022 film premiered in the Midnight section of the Toronto International Film Festival, then played Sitges, Brussels and other festivals. It was distributed in more than 70 countries. Kim later signed with WME, the agency that also represents Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho.

Cheum Film, Studio Take, Library Company and B&C Group are producing, and Mascot Company is presenting. No release date has been announced yet.