No Other Choice (Korean: 어쩔수가없다; lit. I Can't Help It) is an upcoming South Korean thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based upon the novel The Ax by Donald Westlake.
| No Other Choice | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Hangul | 어쩔수가없다 |
| Literal meaning | I Can't Help It |
| Directed by | Park Chan-wook |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | The Ax by Donald Westlake |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
Production company |
|
| Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language |
|
The film follows Man Soo, a man who engages in a desperate hunt for new employment after being fired from a position he's held for 25 years.
Cast
edit- Lee Byung-hun as Man-Soo[1]
- Son Ye-jin as Mi-Ri
- Park Hee-soon as Choi Seon-Chul
- Lee Sung-min as Koo Beom-Mo
- Yeom Hye-ran as A-Ra
- Cha Seung-won as Go Si-Jo
- Yoo Yeon-seok as Oh Jin-Ho
Production
editDevelopment
editDuring the Busan International Film Festival in 2009, it was announced that Park would remake Costa-Gavras' 2005 film The Axe.[2] Park would later clarify that he had read Donald Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax upon which the film was based and decided to adapt it prior to knowing about Costa-Gavras' film.[3] However, the project was delayed when Park received the screenplay for his 2012 film Stoker.[4] In 2012, Park said he planned to make the film his next project but it still needed "more work on the casting and attracting investors".[4]
During a live discussion with Costa-Gavras at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, Park told audiences that he was still working on his adaptation of Westlake's novel.[3] The film was described by Park as a "lifetime project" and that while he hadn't begun filming it yet, he wished "to make this film as my masterpiece.”[5] Gavras, who still held the rights to the book, had helped Park to develop the project. The film was set to be an English-language picture, with Don McKellar co-writing the script alongside Park.[3]
Park's team told The Hollywood Reporter that he was approaching the project with the intent to "strengthen the moral dilemma in this story as much as possible, and he will increase the role of protagonist’s wife".[3]
At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Park stated that the project was still in development and followed "a heartbreaking story about a middle-aged man who lost a job, and now he needs to bring the bread to the table to feed his family. So, he struggles in the process of looking for a job in a specialized field, and he becomes a serial killer."[6]
In March 2024, Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin were announced as the film's leads.[7] Park revealed that the film would now be set in Korea.[8]
In August 2024, Park's frequent collaborators Lee Kyoung-mi and Lee Ja-hye were also announced as writers on the project.
Filming
editPrincipal photography began in August 2024.[9] [1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Son Ye Jin leads cast in upcoming thriller 'Can't Help it' alongside Lee Byung Hun". Times Entertainment. Times of India. 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024.
- ^ Han, Sunhee (12 October 2009). "Park pushes for 'Couperet' remake". Variety.
- ^ a b c d Brzeski, Patrick; Scott, Matthew (10 August 2019). "Busan: Park Chan-wook Reveals Plans for New Film Projects". hollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ a b Lee, Rachael. "Park Chan-wook stalks a thriller with 'Stoker'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Kil, Sonia. "Busan: Park Chan-wook to Remake Costa Gavras' Dark Comedy 'The Ax'". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (27 May 2022). "Park Chan-wook Gives Update On Future Feature 'The Ax' – Cannes Studio". Deadline. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Marc, Christopher (3 April 2024). "'The Ax': Park Chan-Wook's Next Pic Is A Comedic Thriller Remake Starring Lee Byung-Hun & Son Ye-Jin". The Playlist. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Tolentino, Jia (8 April 2024). "Park Chan-wook Gets the Picture He Wants". New Yorker. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Raup, Jordan (13 August 2024). "First Teaser Poster for Park Chan-wook's I Can't Help It, Which Begins Shooting This Week". The Film Stage.
