Production company Chungeorahm Films plans to revive their record-smashing monster and to let it roam the cinema again next year. Shooting for The Host 2 should commence in the fall of this year. Writer/director BONG Joon-ho is wrapped-up in another project and won’t participate in the sequel of his creation, according to Chungeorahm.

Chungeorahm announced that the visual effects will this time be created by a domestic firm, using the knowledge gained while working with the San Francisco based visual effects company The Orphanage on the original The Host.

The film’s KRW 10 billion (US$ 10.7 million) budget is just below the KRW 11 billion of BONG Joon-ho’s The Host. Details about the sequel’s director, cast and story are still undisclosed.

The Host has been a critical and commercial success. Korea’s most popular film recorded over 13 million viewers in a 105 days run during last year’s summer. It was also a hit among international film festival audiences. The film’s releases in international markets resulted in various outcomes. The monster couldn’t captivate a Japanese audience, but did fairly well in other markets including China and the US.

Director BONG was well supported by an A-list cast lead by SONG Kang-ho and BAE Doo-na. The result of the collaboration has often been praised for its entertainment value in combination with social and political commentary.

Yi Ch’ang-ho (KOFIC)