Movies
‘The Host 2’ Gets First Major Investment
We’re officially one step closer to getting the big bad Korean monster back to the big screen as Chungeorahm Film, the company behind the Korean monster hit The Host (Gwoemul, 2006), has announced that Singaporean film company Boku Films will invest 5 million USD for the upcoming sequel, The Host 2 (Gwoemul 2), reports Sci-Fi Japan. Read on for more details
A signing ceremony for the investment was held on July 21 (Korean date) in Puchon, where the 13th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival is currently transpiring (the festival takes place from July 16 to 26). Chungeorahm Film CEO and THE HOST 2 producer Choi Yong-bae, Boku Film CEO Kelvin Tong and director of the Singapore Film Commission Kenneth Tan attended the signing ceremony. Tan is also in charge of MDA (Media Development Authority), by which Boku Films could invest 50% of the film’s whole production cost. The amount of 5 million USD (approximately 6 billion Korean won) is the largest foreign investment for a Korean film in the history of Korean cinema.
Boku Films is one of the most prolific film companies in Singapore and is known to genre fans with such films as THE MAID (2005) and RULE #1 (Dai yat gaai, 2008), all of which were directed by CEO Kelvin Tong. Most notably, THE MAID broke box office records for a horror film in Singapore when it was first released in 2005.
MDA is a state-run organization in Singapore which was established in 2003. Its function is developing and managing content for the media industry in that country.
According to the press release, THE HOST 2 is currently in the development stage with multiple scripts (including a prequel written by comic book creator Kang Full) featuring a variety of concepts. Previously reported on B-D, we said that the sequel will have to tread carefully to avoid criticizing the Chinese government as the story will concern a calamity caused when people ignore a monster due to their desire for money.
The press release also stated that the South Korean mobile telecommunications provider SK Telecom previously invested to cover expenses for planning and development of THE HOST 2. As of this writing, there is no cast or director announced for the sequel, although it was previously reports that Ning Hao would direct.
Chungeorahm Film first announced plans for THE HOST 2 back in June, 2007 with the intention of releasing the film in 2009-10. Prior to this latest announcement, the last update regarding the movie came from Chungeorahm in January of 2008. There has been no news regarding plans for a separate sequel for THE HOST to be produced in China, but Universal Pictures has revealed that filmmaker Gore Verbinski (THE RING, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) will produce the American remake of the first film. Universal’s remake was originally announced in late 2006.
Brendan Fraser is back for the upcoming fourth installment in The Mummy franchise from directors Radio Silence, and Michael Johnston (Obsession) is now in talks to join him.
The Hollywood Reporter lets us know tonight that Michael Johnston is in “early talks” to join The Mummy 4, which will release in theaters on October 15, 2027 via Universal.
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah will reprise their iconic roles as Rick O’Connell, Evelyn O’Connell, and Jonathan Carnahan in the upcoming movie.
Radio Silence duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Scream 5-6) are directing from a script by David Coggeshall (Orphan: First Kill).
Plot details are being kept under wraps at this time, but the brand new sequel is expected to disregard the events of the third movie, in which Rachel Weisz did not appear.
“It’s just really beautiful and scary and sweeping, and it’s awesome,” Gillet teases. Bettinelli-Olpin adds that the film “has all of the heart and the character that you could hope for.”
A remake of the classic Universal monster movie that took an action-adventure approach, The Mummy was released in 1999 and grossed $417 million worldwide. It was followed by The Mummy Returns in 2001 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008.