Director Kim Hong-sun is currently filming the Joseon-era martial arts action film The Hit List, featuring actors Jung Woo-sung and Wi Ha-jun.
The production, which began in October, adapts a popular Kakao webtoon and marks a significant international collaboration between Korean creative talent and veteran global technical crews.
The project, unveiled by South Korean sales firm Finecut, signals a continued effort to blend domestic historical narratives with high-end production standards. Kim, known for his work on Project Wolf Hunting and the British crime drama Gangs of London, is reuniting with key international collaborators to execute the film’s complex action sequences.
Variety reported that the film focuses on the power struggles of the Joseon era, centering on the historical figure Han Myeong-hoe and a woman named Baek E-hwa, who seeks vengeance against him.
The production team includes director of photography Lars Cox, whose credits include House of the Dragon and The Witcher, and gaffer Kieran Waites, who has contributed to the Fast & Furious franchise and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
By integrating technical expertise from major Western productions with established South Korean storytelling, the project aims to replicate the cross-border appeal seen in Kim’s previous works. Project Wolf Hunting (2022) achieved distribution in more than 70 countries following its premiere in the Midnight section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The narrative of The Hit List draws from a Kakao webtoon that has garnered more than 120 million views. The plot follows the rise of Han Myeong-hoe, played by Jung Woo-sung, whose filmography includes 12.12: The Day and The Good, the Bad, the Weird.
Wi Ha-jun, widely recognized for his role in the global hit Squid Game, plays Grand Prince Suyang, a character who relies on Han’s influence to usurp the throne from his nephew.
| Project | Director | Genre | International Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Wolf Hunting | Kim Hong-sun | Action/Thriller | 70+ Countries |
| The Hit List | Kim Hong-sun | Martial Arts/Period | In Production |
The film represents Finecut’s second collaboration with Kim. The production is supported by a consortium of companies, including Cheum Film, Studio Take, Library Company, and B&C Group, with Mascot Company presenting. Kim is signed with WME, the agency that represents Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho.
The inclusion of crew members who have worked on high-profile series like House of the Dragon indicates a strategic investment in technical quality intended to compete directly in the global action genre market. The film is currently in production, following Kim’s previous genre projects such as The Chase and Metamorphosis.
By focusing on the historical complexities of the Joseon era, the production aims to offer a distinct cultural narrative while utilizing the action-heavy aesthetic that has become a hallmark of Kim’s directorial style.
