Director Hong Won-ki of Johnny Bros is set to become the first K-pop music video director to break into the American film market.
Hong Won-ki has signed a contract with producer Scott Strauss of Badlands, a Hollywood production company known for producing over 40 films, including the ‘Resident Evil’ and ‘Underworld’ franchises, as well as ‘Monster Hunter’. Together, they will produce a film titled ‘UNNIE,’ based on the original work by Lin Kyu.
‘UNNIE’ is a thriller set against the backdrop of the highly competitive world of K-pop, reminiscent of the film ‘Black Swan’. The production is scheduled to take place in Seoul and Los Angeles in the first half of 2025, with casting currently underway for prominent Hollywood actors and K-pop artists.
Hong expressed his anticipation for the project, saying, “I expect this tense thriller about girls chasing their dreams to resonate globally, much like the worldwide popularity of K-pop.”
Producer Scott Strauss commented, “After meeting Johnny Bros in Korea, I was convinced that they could uniquely deliver the world of K-pop that global fans crave. Director Hong Won-ki’s dazzling visuals and passion are the perfect fit for this film.”
Established in 2001 by director Hong Won-ki and cinematographer Kim Jun-hong, Johnny Bros has produced over 1500 music videos for artists such as BTS, EXO, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Kara, (G)I-DLE, Mamamoo, and Seo Taiji, becoming a legendary production company in the K-pop industry.
Hong Won-ki has also gained industry attention with his Netflix series ‘Urban Legends’ and the film “Urban Myths,” both of which integrate Korean urban legends with K-pop artists. He recently completed filming for the movie ‘Connecting’ (tentative title) and is currently in post-production.
This milestone marks a significant expansion for K-pop culture into the global film industry, promising to bring the intense and captivating world of K-pop to a broader audience.
