'Time to Hunt' Korea's First Netflix Release... Will It Also Be Available in Theaters?

[Lee Isul, Entertainment Reporter]

It is the first time in the history of Korean cinema.

Amid the unprecedented COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) crisis, the film Time to Hunt (director Yoon Sung-hyun) chose to release on Netflix instead of a theatrical release.

Time to Hunt, the first Korean film invited to the Berlinale Special Gala section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, was scheduled to open on February 26, right after its premiere in Berlin, but the release was halted due to the spread of COVID-19.

Afterwards, the distributor Little Big Pictures monitored the situation with a theatrical release planned for March. However, as the impact of COVID-19 showed no signs of easing, they faced difficulties.

Time to Hunt had already exhausted its marketing budget in preparation for the late February release. All scheduled events except the press screening and interviews, such as production briefings and movie talks, were completed. Posters are currently displayed in theaters, and trailers are being screened.

In this unfortunate situation, an indefinite postponement was not an option. Ultimately, after much deliberation, the small distributor Little Big Pictures proposed releasing the film on Netflix, which was agreed upon, and the film is set to be released on April 10.

Little Big Pictures stated, "Given the ongoing risk of the COVID-19 virus and its global spread, we made this decision with the expectation that it is the most effective way to introduce our work to a wider audience."

While this is a first in Korea, Hollywood is also adopting simultaneous OTT platform releases as an alternative amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Universal Pictures decided to release Trolls World Tour, scheduled for April release, simultaneously in theaters and online.

Sony Pictures announced on the 13th (local time) that Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel and released in North America, would be available on VOD early on the 24th.

However, the cast of Time to Hunt expressed confidence, emphasizing that the film offers a cinematic experience. Audience anticipation for watching the film in theaters has also increased. Previously, some films released on Netflix, such as Okja (director Bong Joon-ho) and Marriage Story, were simultaneously screened in theaters. Therefore, there is still a possibility for Time to Hunt.

Recently, the government recommended maintaining "social distancing" until the 5th of next month. Accordingly, it is expected that Time to Hunt will explore various options after the 5th in line with these recommendations.

Attention is focused on whether Time to Hunt can be seen in theaters beyond home viewing.

Meanwhile, Time to Hunt is a chase thriller depicting four friends planning a dangerous operation for a new life and a mysterious pursuer chasing them, capturing their tense time of hunting. It is the new work of director Yoon Sung-hyun, who directed Guardians. The film stars Jae-hoon Lee, Jae-hong Ahn, Jung-min Park, Woo-sik Choi, and Hae-soo Park.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.