Korean entertainment giant Showbox has officially launched global sales for a new high-stakes action thriller titled COLONY. The project, now in production, is directed by Yeon Sang-ho, best known for the international hit Train to Busan. Colony is expected to premiere in 2026 and was recently presented at the Cannes Market, drawing interest from international buyers.
In Colony, the story takes place at—a biotechnology conference that goes bad. People at the event start to get sick with a virus that changes quickly. The whole facility is locked down as panic spreads—trapping a group of survivors inside. The virus doesn’t just hurt the body; it starts to behave and build itself in strange ways. The movie’s tagline, “As the virus spreads, the order begins to mutate,” suggests more than just getting sick. It means that systems, control and human behavior start to fall apart.
The film brings together a top-tier Korean cast. Gianna Jun leads the lineup. She’s widely known for her powerful roles in Kingdom: Ashin of the North and the film Assassination. Joining her are Koo Kyo-hwan, known for his versatile performances in films like Peninsula and D.P., Ji Chang-wook from Healer and The Worst of Evil, and Shin Hyun-been, seen in Hospital Playlist. Together, they create a strong and diverse ensemble prepared to tackle the intense drama and action of Colony.
The movie is being produced by Wowpoint and Smilegate, with support from Midnight Studio. International distribution is handled by Showbox, which continues to bring creative and thrilling Korean stories to viewers around the world.
The announcement of Colony at Cannes follows Showbox’s impressive appearance at Hong Kong FilMart, where the studio showcased several other upcoming films. Among them is Taboo: The Silent Day, a horror mystery shot in Indonesia with a Korean cast and crew. That film explores a supernatural event triggered during a Bali vacation. Also on the slate is Big Deal, a drama starring Lee Je-hoon, and Once We Were Us, a romance featuring Koo Kyo-hwan and Mun Ka-young. There’s also The Verdict, a Korean-Indonesian co-production, and White Blast, a mystery thriller also starring Koo Kyo-hwan.
With Colony, Yeon Sang-ho returns to familiar territory—trapped settings, dangerous viruses, and the breakdown of society. But the confined biotech conference setting offers a new angle, promising suspense, chaos, and emotional drama.
Stay connected with tvacute.com for future updates on Colony, behind-the-scenes details, and more news on Korean cinema’s most exciting upcoming projects.
