WellGo USA Buys Two-Part Korean Fantasy ‘Gods’
WellGo US has picked up North American rights to South Korean fantasy drama “Along With the Gods.” The film is one of the most expensive in Korean history and was highest profile launch at the film market that accompanied the Busan Film Festival last week.
Based on Ju Ho-min’s popular web cartoon of the same title, and directed by Kim Yong-hwa (“Mr. Go”), the film sees the story of a firefighter who is taken to the afterlife by three guardians. He has to complete seven trials before he can be reincarnated.
The fantasy blockbuster, made with a total budget of $35.5 million (KRW 40 billion), is set as a two-part feature film. The first has a theatrical release in Korea on December 20, while the second part will be released in summer, 2018.
The film’s cast includes some of the country’s top stars including Ha Jung-woo (“The Handmaiden”), Cha Tae-hyun (“Scandal Makers”), Ju Ji-hoon (Asura: The City of Madness), Kim Hyang-gi (Proof Of Innocence), Lee Jung-jae (Operation Chromite) and Doh Kyung-soo (“My Annoying Brother”) of K-pop boyband EXO.
Lotte Entertainment screened 12 minutes of footage in the market and secured several sales in other territories. The film was acquired by Cai Chang International for Taiwan, Edko Films for Hong Kong and Macau, Viva Communication for The Philippines, Purple Plan for Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, and by Westec Media for Cambodia and Laos. Lotte Cinema Vietnam will handle its Vietnamese release.
“The footage in Busan gave me a real sense of the movie’s massive budget and scale of production. It combines all of the spectacular elements that made me a fan of Korean movies in the first place – from its storytelling to quality of production to amazing CGI,” said Doris Pfardrescher, WellGo CEO.
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