Phantom Detective and A Werewolf Boy director Jo Sung-hee’s new intergalactic sci-fi, Space Sweepers, was another that fell casualty to the ongoing pandemic affecting theatrical exhibitors in 2020.
Going forward though, the film getting a guaranteed release on Netflix early next year with the streamer ramping up its K-Content initiative. The film is one of seven titles among which are several television dramas, including Lee Chung-hyun’s The Call, Lee Eung-bok’s ten-episode drama, Sweet Home, Yu Sun-dong’s The Uncanny Counter and many more.
“This year marked an incredible milestone for Korean filmmakers with the triumphant of Director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite winning the Oscars, positive reviews around Netflix film Time to Hunt, and the global popularity of #Alive via Netflix across the world.” said Netflix content veep for Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Minyoung Kim. “Netflix is at the forefront of changing the way entertainment is enjoyed throughout the world. We believe that great stories can come from anywhere and travel everywhere. We’re bringing Korean storytelling with the goal to entertain our members around the world.”
Space Sweepers takes place in 2092, when Earth has become a bleak planet which will soon be uninhabitable. The privileged class now live as UTS citizens on pristine habitats built between Earth and the moon, while 95% of the human race, the non-citizens, struggle to survive on the ruined Earth.
The film centers on the members of Spaceship Victory, one of the many ships living off the dangerous task of salvaging space debris, a lot of which float in space at intense speeds, but a task no less managed aptly by genius space pilot Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki), mysterious ex-space pirate Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri), ex-con spaceship engineer Tiger Park (Jin Sun-kyu), and reprogrammed military robot Bubs (Yoo Hae-jin).
After successfully snatching a crashed space shuttle in the latest debris chase, Victory’s crew find a 7-year-old girl inside. They realize that she’s the humanlike robot wanted by UTS Space Guards, and decide to demand ransom in exchange.
Don’t miss the trailer from earlier this year and stay tuned for more release info.
