'Train to Busan' director's 'Colony' sells out globally ahead of Cannes premiere

Director Yeon Sang-ho's new zombie thriller "Colony" has been snapped up by over 120 territories worldwide.

According to Variety, the film is set for a prestigious Midnight Screening at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The premiere will take place on 15 May.

The massive global pre-sales signal huge international anticipation. In North America, the film was acquired by genre specialists Well Go USA.

Major European territories were also quick to secure the rights. StudioCanal will handle the UK, with ARP SAS covering France and Plaion Pictures for Germany and Italy.

The buying spree continued across the globe. BF Distribution is set to release the film in Latin America, while Mis Label will cover Scandinavia.

In Asia, the film was picked up by key distributors including Edko Films for Hong Kong and MovieCloud for Taiwan. A broad Southeast Asia release is also planned.

The film follows biotechnology professor Se-jeong, played by Jun. She attends an industry conference that descends into harrowing chaos. A rapidly mutating virus is suddenly released among the attendees. Authorities respond by locking down the entire facility, trapping everyone inside.

Survivors are left to contend with the afflicted, who evolve unpredictably. The harrowing struggle for survival begins inside the sealed building.

The film is headlined by superstar Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun). This marks her return to the big screen after an eleven-year absence.

For those unversed, this will also be Jun's first appearance at the prestigious film festival. She will walk the red carpet with the main cast. The star-studded ensemble includes Koo Kyo-hwan and Ji Chang-wook. They are joined by Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rock, and Go Soo.

Director Yeon Sang-ho described the film as a synthesis of his previous work. It blends the appeal of 'Train to Busan' with the darker tone of 'Hellbound'.

The film was produced with a budget of approximately KRW 17 billion. It is presented by Showbox and produced by Wowpoint and Smilegate.

He also promised a terrifying new take on the infected. He told reporters they are 'completely new, different from anything I've shown before.'

The director revealed the film explores modern societal anxieties. It examines 'how the crowd starts thinking as one and the individual just falls apart.'

This marks Yeon’s fourth film to be invited to Cannes. His acclaimed works include "Train to Busan" and its sequel "Peninsula".

The selection of 'Colony' highlights the continued global prominence of South Korean cinema. Director Park Chan-wook is also serving as this year's jury president.

"Colony" will open in South Korea on 21 May, 2026. This will be followed by releases in Taiwan and Malaysia on 22 May.