Netflix set to stream ‘Train to Busan’ director’s ‘Psychokinesis’
GLOBAL streaming giant Netflix has picked up Psychokinesis, the next film by Yeon Sang-ho. Yeon previously directed the the zombie thriller Train to Busan, which was a commercial and critical sensation across Asia.
Psychokinesis is the story of a father who sets out to save his troubled daughter with superpowers that he discovers he possesses. The film was picked up as one of three titles acquired from Contents Panda, the international sales arm of South Korean investor-distributor Next Entertainment World. Other titles are Yang Woo-seok’s Steel Rain and The Chase by Kim Hong-sun.
Netflix previously picked up NEW/Contents Panda’s Pandora. It released the post-apocalyptic action-adventure film from January this year, following its December 2016 cinematic release in Korea.
“Following Pandora, the recent partnership was made possible as both Netflix and NEW agree what makes great content,” said Jae-Min Kim, head of overseas sales at Contents Panda. “We plan to get a head start in global markets by securing more competitive content in the future.”
Directed by Yang Woo-seok, who made hit drama The Attorney in 2013, Steel Rain focuses on the nuclear threats after a coup in North Korea forces its leader and his elite guard to come South. Chase, directed by Kim Hong-sun is a thriller that features two characters chasing after the suspect of a long-unsolved case.
Netflix has also been involved with Korean films from other sources and is ramping up its involvement in the Korean production scene. It fully financed Okja, the animal fantasy with a US$50 million budget by Bong Joon-ho. Both Train to Busan and Okja had their world premieres at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016 and 2017, respectively.