NEON just added yet another buzzy 2025 title to its list of upcoming theatrical releases, and this one hasn’t even had its world premiere yet. Park Chan-wook‘s new feature “No Other Choice” is NEON’s latest rights acquisition in a year that includes their sixth consecutive Cannes Palme d’Or winner (Jafar Panahi‘s “It Was Just An Accident“), Joachim Trier‘s Grind Prix winner”Sentimental Value,” and more.
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The deal is for the North American theatrical rights for Park’s 12th feature, a long-gestating project that many anticipated to bow at the upcoming Venice Film Festival. It’s NEON and Park Chan-wook’s second collaboration after the 2023 20th anniversary “Oldboy” 4K re-release.
Based on Donald Westlake‘s 1997 novel “The Ax,” “No Other Choice” stars “Squid Game” lead actor Lee Byung-hun as a man who gets laid off from his long-time job and resorts to desperate measures to procure a new one. It’s Park and Lee’s first time working together since 200’s “Joint Security Area.” Son Jejin co-stars as Lee’s wife, with Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo Yeon-seok.
“No Other Choice” is Park’s first film since 2022’s “Decision To Leave,” which won him Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival that year. His most recent work is the HBO miniseries “The Sympathizer,” starring Robert Downey Jr. Other major work for Park includes “Olboy,” his “Vengeance” trilogy, and “The Handmaiden,” which he won a BAFTA for.
NEON is coming off arguably its most successful year ever after Sean Baker‘s “Anora” took home five Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. The company also had major genre hits with the likes of “Longlegs” and “Cuckoo,” among others. Clearly NEON also has big plans for 2025 with all of their recent acquisitions. Along with Paranhi’s and Trier’s films, NEON debuted picked up Julia Ducournau‘s “Alpha,” Raoul Peck‘s ‘Orwell: 2+2=5,” and Micahel Angelo Covino‘s “Splitsville” at Cannes (NEON also produced on that pic). They also picked up the NA rights for Oliver Laxe‘s “Sirât,” “Kleber Mendonça Filho‘s “The Secret Agent,” and Ugo Bienvenu‘s “Arco.”
Stay tuned for more details about NEON’s release of “No Other Choice,” and where Park’s latest will have its world premiere. The best bets there are the Venice Film Festival, with the film hitting theaters in December.
