Key Takeaways:
– Theo James, known for roles in The Gentlemen and Divergent films, set to star in a film ‘The Hole’ by South Korean director Kim Jee-woon.
– His first co-star is Emmy-nominated Korean actress and model Hoyeon, famous for her debut in the Netflix series Squid Game.
– The Hole is based on the 2017 Shirley Jackson Award winning novel by Hye-young Pyun. Production is expected to start in 2025.
Last week, some exciting movie news dropped – Theo James is returning to the screen! You probably remember him from The Gentlemen, the Divergent series, and the upcoming Stephen King collaboration, The Monkey. This time, he’s hitting the reels in a new film titled ‘The Hole’ being directed by Kim Jee-woon, a prominent South Korean director.
But that’s not all! Now, we also know who’ll be sharing the screen with Theo – it’s none other than Hoyeon, the Korean actress, and model who wowed us all in the Netflix hit Squid Game. If her performance in Squid Game was any indication, we’re in for a treat!
About James’ New Role
Theo James is all set to play Owen, a successful professor living in South Korea. It’s not all rosy for him, though – a tragic car accident sees him confined to a bed, a life quite different from his once successful career. He loses his wife, Sandy, in the accident, and falls under the care of his Korean mother-in-law, Yuna.
The screenplay for ‘The Hole’ is written by Christopher Chen and the story gets really interesting here. After Yuna starts digging up some unsettling truths about Owen’s marriage, Owen’s recovery is threatened. Remember Hoyeon from earlier? Well, she’ll be playing Sandy. We can’t wait to see how this drama unfolds!
Production and Release Details
‘The Hole’ is based on an award-winning novel by Hye-young Pyun and brought to the screen by a team of expert producers and studios: Esmail Corp, K Period Media and Anthology Studios. The Veterans are handling international distribution rights while US rights are represented by CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group.
You’ll find it interesting that the story unfolds in a blend of English and Korean, as it takes place in both the United States and South Korea. Filming will happen in both countries, with production starting in either the first or second quarter of 2025.
About the Novel
In the novel, the character Oghi wakes up from a coma after causing a car accident that killed his wife and left him paralyzed. His caretaker is his mother-in-law, whose only child was Oghi’s wife. He’s left alone in his bed, his world limited to his room and memories of his complicated relationship with his wife. Oghi’s mother-in-law becomes obsessed with digging holes in their garden – but why? The novel is a brilliant exploration of the horrors of isolation, neglect, and the secrets one hides.
Director Kim Jee-woon’s Portfolio
‘The Hole’ director Kim Jee-woon is no newbie to the industry. His directing credits span different genres and include popular films like A Tale of Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life, The Age of Shadows, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Last Stand, among others.
