Jung Ho Yeon, widely recognised for playing Kang Sae-byeok in Squid Game, has opened up about the demanding experience of filming her upcoming sci-fi thriller Hope. The South Korean actress revealed that one extended firearm action sequence required 18 takes, describing the process as intense while reflecting on director Na Hong-jin’s perfectionist approach to filmmaking.
The project challenged Ho Yeon to learn new physical skills, including handling firearms and performing car drifts. For the actress, these unfamiliar experiences became one of the most exciting parts of taking on the role, allowing her to explore a different side of her abilities on screen.
Jung Ho Yeon Reveals Why Hope’s Action Scene Took 18 Takes
While discussing her experience on Hope, Ho Yeon recalled filming a lengthy firearm sequence that demanded precision and stamina. The scene involved her character firing a weapon over an extended stretch, with the action continuing from getting out of a car to returning to it.
Director Na Hong-jin is known for his meticulous approach, and the sequence required repeated attempts to capture the details he wanted. Ho Yeon explained that the scene was filmed 18 times, making it one of the more physically demanding parts of her work on the movie.
The actress described the experience as intense by the end, particularly because the repeated takes required her to maintain concentration and physical control. Her account also offers a glimpse into the level of detail involved in bringing the film’s action sequences to the screen. Rather than treating the repeated takes simply as a setback, the process became part of the challenge of working with a director who wanted to get every element right.
Firearms Training And Car Drifting Pushed The Actress Into New Territory
Preparing for Hope required Ho Yeon to move beyond the kind of performance audiences saw in Squid Game. Her training included learning to handle firearms, practising car drifting and developing other action techniques needed for her role. The actress said that although the preparation involved considerable effort, learning skills she had never tried before was particularly exciting. The experience gave her an opportunity to explore a more physically demanding role and take on unfamiliar challenges.
Ho Yeon plays Sung-ae, a rookie police officer who becomes caught in a frightening situation when a mysterious threat emerges in a remote community. The character’s circumstances place her in the middle of escalating danger, making physical action an important part of the performance. The training helped Ho Yeon approach the role with greater confidence, while the filming process tested her ability to sustain the intensity required for long sequences.
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What Is Hope About? Meet The Film’s International Cast
Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, Hope is a South Korean science-fiction monster thriller set in a remote village facing an extraordinary threat. What begins with a disturbing discovery develops into a much larger confrontation involving mysterious creatures and the residents struggling to survive.
The film features an international cast, including Ho Yeon, Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell. Its combination of science fiction, suspense and action marks a different project for Ho Yeon following her breakthrough role in Squid Game.
Na Hong-jin, known for films such as The Chaser and The Wailing, brings his distinctive filmmaking approach to the ambitious production. The film premiered in 2026 and has drawn attention for its scale, international ensemble and action-driven storytelling.
Hope Brings Jung Ho Yeon Back To The Big Screen
With Hope, Ho Yeon is taking on a demanding feature-film role that calls for physical preparation alongside her acting skills. The repeated action takes illustrate the attention given to performance and detail during production, while her comments highlight the discipline involved in working through a complex sequence.
The film is scheduled to release in Indian theatres on October 23, 2026, in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Its release gives Indian audiences an opportunity to see Ho Yeon in a role that differs considerably from the character that first introduced her to a global audience. For the actress, the project represents another step in her acting journey, bringing together new skills, an ambitious genre and a director known for his exacting methods.
Final Take
Jung Ho Yeon’s experience filming Hope shows how demanding action filmmaking can be, particularly when a director wants every detail to meet a specific vision. From firearms training and car drifting to repeating one long sequence 18 times, the actress embraced unfamiliar challenges for her role as Sung-ae. The sci-fi thriller is set to reach Indian cinemas on October 23, 2026.
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