Director Yeon Sang-ho Unveils New Zombie Film 'The Hive' with Behind-the-Scenes Insights

Director Yeon Sang-ho has released a behind-the-scenes video for his latest film, 'The Hive,' showcasing the creation of a 'new species.' Actress Jun Ji-hyun, returning to the big screen after 11 years, expressed her fear of the realistic performances of the infected, which were not CGI.

'The Hive' is set in a building sealed off due to a mysterious infection outbreak, where isolated survivors face off against infected individuals evolving in unpredictable ways. The film stars Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Shin-rok, and Go Soo.

The behind-the-scenes video, 'The Birth of a New Species,' features Director Yeon and the cast discussing the film's creation. Yeon explained, "While 'Train to Busan' dealt with events in the confined space of a train and 'Peninsula' in the isolated Korean Peninsula, I wanted to focus on zombies themselves when conceptualizing 'The Hive.'" As a renowned 'zombie master' from his previous works, anticipation builds for the new type of zombie Yeon will introduce. The cast shared their initial reactions to the script, with Koo Kyo-hwan finding the concept of 'updating' the infected intriguing, and Shin Hyun-bin noting the unique portrayal of the infected's movements.

The segment 'Talking About The Hive' highlights the film's unique appeal. Kim Shin-rok mentioned, "It felt like an apocalyptic film with infected individuals different from typical zombies," raising expectations for the new world 'The Hive' will unveil. Yeon's comment about moments of information exchange among the infected, referred to as 'updates,' is visually represented by the intense scene of infected individuals shaking their heads and bodies.

Jun Ji-hyun shared, "Acting on set was scarier than I expected," as 'The Hive' uses choreography and dancers' movements instead of CGI to portray the infected, enhancing the horror's realism. Ji Chang-wook described it as "a very new and fun experience," while Go Soo expressed curiosity about how the film would be realized, indicating the fresh experience for the actors.

In 'Completing the New Species,' the dedication of choreographer Jeon Young and Kim Soo-in in creating the infected's movements is evident. From twisting bodies post-infection to crawling on all fours and mimicking survivors, the bizarre and unfamiliar movements showcasing the infected's evolution were brought to life by dancers. Choreographer Jeon Young remarked, "How can a person express such movements with their body? It's truly bizarre and the pinnacle of technique. I felt reborn," highlighting the impact of their work. The anticipation for the infected's movements in 'The Hive' continues to grow.

'The Hive' is set to premiere in theaters on May 21.

By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr