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No Other Choice

No Other Choice
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
어쩔수가없다
Lit.I Can't Help It
RREojjeolsugaeopda
MRŎtchŏlsugaŏpta
Directed byPark Chan-wook
Screenplay by
Based onThe Ax
by Donald Westlake
Produced by
  • Park Chan-wook
Starring
CinematographyKim Woo-hyung
Edited byKim Sang-bum
Music byJo Yeong-wook
Production
companies
Distributed byCJ Entertainment
Release dates
  • August 29, 2025 (2025-08-29) (Venice)
  • September 24, 2025 (2025-09-24) (South Korea)
Running time
139 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
Language
  • Korean

No Other Choice (Korean: 어쩔수가없다; RR: Eojjeolsugaeopda) is an upcoming South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook and based on the novel The Ax by Donald Westlake. Starring Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won, it follows Man Soo, a man who engages in a desperate hunt for new employment after being fired from a position he has held for 25 years.

The film will have its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 29 August 2025, where it is nominated for the Golden Lion,[1] and will open 30th Busan International Film Festival on 17 September 2025.[2]

Cast

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Production

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Development

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During the Busan International Film Festival in 2009, it was announced that Park would remake Costa-Gavras' 2005 film The Axe.[4] Park would later clarify that he had read Donald Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax upon which the film was based and decided to adapt it prior to knowing about Costa-Gavras' film.[5] However, the project was delayed when Park received the screenplay for his 2012 film Stoker.[6] In 2012, Park said he planned to make the film his next project but it still needed "more work on the casting and attracting investors".[6]

During a live discussion with Costa-Gavras at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, Park told audiences that he was still working on his adaptation of Westlake's novel.[5] The film was described by Park as a "lifetime project" and that while he hadn't begun filming it yet, he wished "to make this film as my masterpiece."[7] Gavras, who still held the rights to the book, had helped Park to develop the project. The film was set to be an English-language picture, with Don McKellar co-writing the script alongside Park.[5]

Park's team told The Hollywood Reporter that he was approaching the project with the intent to "strengthen the moral dilemma in this story as much as possible, and he will increase the role of protagonist's wife".[5]

At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Park stated that the project was still in development and followed "a heartbreaking story about a middle-aged man who lost a job, and now he needs to bring the bread to the table to feed his family. So, he struggles in the process of looking for a job in a specialized field, and he becomes a serial killer."[8]

In March 2024, Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin were announced as the film's leads.[9] Park and Son previously worked together in the 2016 movie The Truth Beneath, while Park collaborated with Lee on Joint Security Area (2000). Park revealed that the film would now be set in Korea.[10]

In August 2024, Park's frequent collaborators Lee Kyoung-mi and Lee Ja-hye were also announced as writers on the project.

Filming

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Principal photography began in August 2024.[11][3] Filming wrapped in January 2025, lasting a total of five months.[12]

Release

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In June 2025, Neon acquired North American distribution rights to No Other Choice, with Mubi taking rights to the film in the U.K., Ireland, Latin America, Spain, Turkey, the SAARC, Australia, New Zealand and the Benelux, the latter in association with its subsidiary Cinéart.[13] In July 2025, it was announced that the film would premiere in competition for the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival,[14][15] followed by a theatrical release in South Korea on September 24, 2025.[16]

The film is also slated to have its North American premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where Lee Byung-hun will receive a Special Tribute Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards event.[17]

It will open the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 17 2025.[18] It also made it to the Main Slate of 2025 New York Film Festival, where it will have its United States Premiere in October 2025.[19] It will also be presented in 'Special Presentations' section at the 2025 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival on 17 September 2025.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | Eojjeol suga eopda (No Other Choice)". La Biennale di Venezia. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. ^ Kim Ji-hye (8 August 2025). "한 치 앞도 예측할 수 없는 이야기…'어쩔수가없다', 호기심 가득한 2차 포스터" [A story where even the slightest prediction is impossible… "There's No Way Out": A Curious Second Poster]. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Son Ye Jin leads cast in upcoming thriller 'Can't Help it' alongside Lee Byung Hun". Times Entertainment. Times of India. 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024.
  4. ^ Han, Sunhee (12 October 2009). "Park pushes for 'Couperet' remake". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Brzeski, Patrick; Scott, Matthew (10 August 2019). "Busan: Park Chan-wook Reveals Plans for New Film Projects". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b Lee, Rachel (29 March 2012). "Park Chan-wook stalks a thriller with 'Stoker'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  7. ^ Kil, Sonia (6 October 2019). "Busan: Park Chan-wook to Remake Costa Gavras' Dark Comedy 'The Ax'". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (27 May 2022). "Park Chan-wook Gives Update On Future Feature 'The Ax' – Cannes Studio". Deadline. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  9. ^ Marc, Christopher (3 April 2024). "'The Ax': Park Chan-Wook's Next Pic Is A Comedic Thriller Remake Starring Lee Byung-Hun & Son Ye-Jin". The Playlist. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  10. ^ Tolentino, Jia (8 April 2024). "Park Chan-wook Gets the Picture He Wants". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  11. ^ Raup, Jordan (13 August 2024). "First Teaser Poster for Park Chan-wook's I Can't Help It, Which Begins Shooting This Week". The Film Stage. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  12. ^ Gubecka, Zanda (21 January 2025). "Park Chan-wook Film 'No Other Choice' Wraps Production". Feature First. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  13. ^ Grobar, Matt (27 June 2025). "MUBI Acquires Park Chan-Wook's 'No Other Choice'". Deadline. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  14. ^ Ntim, Zac (22 July 2025). "Venice: Kathryn Bigelow, Guillermo del Toro, Noah Baumbach & Benny Safdie In Competition – Full Lineup". Deadline. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ Whittock, Jesse (22 July 2025). "'No Other Choice': Watch Trailer For Park Chan-wook's Latest Film; Release Date Set". Deadline. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  16. ^ Jang Areum (22 August 2025). "박찬욱 신작 '어쩔수가없다', 흥행 청신호? 15세 관람가 판정 [N이슈]" [Park Chan-wook's new film, "Inevitable," is a promising box office hit? Rated PG-15 [N Issue]]. News1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  17. ^ John Hazelton, "TIFF Tribute Awards for Guillermo del Toro, Jodie Foster, Hikari, Lee Byung Hun". Screen Daily, July 31, 2025.
  18. ^ Bae Hyo-joo (4 August 2025). "박찬욱 감독 신작 '어쩔수가없다' 부산국제영화제 개막작" [Director Park Chan-wook's new film, "Inevitable," opens the Busan International Film Festival.]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  19. ^ "63rd New York Film Festival Main Slate Announced". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  20. ^ "No Other Choice". Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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