18-07-2013

Prague Production Snowpiercer Pre-sells to 167 Countries

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    "Snowpricer", dir. Bong Joon-ho "Snowpricer", dir. Bong Joon-ho

    SEOUL: The sci-fi epic shot at Prague's Barrandov Studios by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho over the last year has set a pre-sales record for a Korean film, according to the distributor. Snowpiercer, the post-apocalypse adaptation of a hit book, set on a massive train traveling around a frozen world, has been sold to 167 countries ahead its release in August, says Korean media giant CJ Entertainment.

    French distributor Wildside has locked down rights in that country, Eastern Europe and South America, while the English-language rights went to The Weinstein Company, the premier US arthouse distributor.

    The movie stars top Korean actor Song Kang-ho alongside Hollywood players Chris Evans (The Avengers), Ed Harris, Octavia Spencer (The Help) and the UK's Jamie Bell and Tilda Swinton. Bong and the American screenwriter Kelly Masterson wrote the screenplay, based on the graphic novel Le Transperceneige.

    The $40 million project is slated to premier in Seoul July 29 with some of the American cast on hand. The Yonhap News Agency reports no opening dates yet set for its release outside Korea.