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BONG Joon-ho’s The Host (2006) still holds the title of top grossing film of all time at the Korean box office. Its sequel and expectant box office successor, The Host 2 is still in the development stage yet already generating a lot of buzz. Announcements from Chungeoram Film, producer of both films, reveal that the sequel will actually be a prequel, set in 2003, and is to feature multiple monsters.

Writer Kang Do-yoon, a popular Internet cartoonist known by his pen-name Kang-full, is said to have completed the screenplay for the blockbuster project which plans to go into production this summer. While a new director and cast have yet to be announced, the ‘prequel’ will this time feature monsters appearing from the Cheonggyecheon, a newly developed stream and leisure area running through central Seoul.

The Cheonggyecheon project was developed by President-elect LEE Myung-bak when he was mayor of Seoul. The film is to be set during the initial 2003 construction of the Cheonggyecheon which was formerly covered by an elevated highway under which the stream was buried. It will portray the lives of the street vendors, construction workers and police before the stream was completed.

As with the original, political and social subtext is to be expected along with enhanced CGI effects, this time completely homegrown. The film is budgeted at US$ 11 million, similar to the original. It will see a release in the summer of 2009.

Source:http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/KOFIC/Channel?task=kofic.user.eng.b_filmnews.command.NewsView1Cmd&searchPage=1&Gesipan_SCD=1&Gesimul_SNO=900

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter


For people who visit the Han River, some may have wondered if there is anything living under the deep waters. That fantasy was brought to life in the 2006 hit movie "The Host," and for fans that enjoyed the thriller, news of a sequel will indeed grab attention.

Chungeoram Film, producer of the film, said that in "The Host 2," (working title) more monsters will appear but this time from Cheonggye Stream. The draft for the scenario has been completed by Kang Do-yoon, better known as Kang-full, a renowned Internet cartoonist.

"The sequel will portray the lives of the city street vendors, the Cheonggye stream construction workers and the police before the stream was completed," Choi Yong-bae, the head of Chungeoram Film said.

President-elect Lee Myung-bak successfully brought back to life the Cheonggye Stream in 2005 when he was mayor of Seoul.

"We did worry that the setting was a place that symbolizes the President-elect's accomplishment. But Cheonggyecheon is already a place that represents Seoul and we thought the movie would fully portray the social and historical meaning 'The Host' has," Choi said.

The sequel will be set in 2003, when plans to reclaim Cheonggye Stream were just announced.

"The Host" (2006) directed by Bong Joon-ho, featured a monster that was born out of the pollution in the Han River. The film saw an audience of 13 million, becoming the year's blockbuster.

But the sequel is expected to feature several monsters from Cheonggye Stream which was formerly had been covered by an elevated highway after the stream was buried. More computer graphics will also be needed to capture details of the pre-Cheonggye Stream renovation, which is expected to push the budget for the film to around 10 billion won, insiders said.

The director and actors of the movie are yet to be confirmed. The production company said that they will start shooting later this year and hopefully see a release in 2009.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
Source:http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../135_16611.html