▲ This photo, provided by Plus M Entertainment, shows the poster for the sci-fi thriller "Hope." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Director Na Hong-jin's highly anticipated science fiction film "Hope" got off to a strong start Wednesday, recording nearly 600,000 advance ticket reservations on its opening day, the highest figure for any film released this year.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, "Hope" accounted for 68.1 percent of all advance reservations as of 7 a.m., far outpacing "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with 11.3 percent and the animated film "Minions & Monsters" with 6.2 percent.

The film had drawn about 599,000 advance ticket reservations, the largest presales figure for a film released this year.

"Hope" follows the events that unfold after a mysterious extraterrestrial life form appears in the fictional village of Hopo Port, located within the Demilitarized Zone.

The film marks Na's first feature in a decade since "The Wailing" (2016). It has been regarded as one of the year's most anticipated Korean films, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell.

The movie premiered in the main competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May before undergoing more than a month of revisions and refinements ahead of its domestic release.

Featuring large-scale action sequences, the film depicts battles between the extraterrestrial creature and villagers using vehicles and horses, while incorporating Na's signature blend of suspense and comedy.

The production budget is reportedly more than 50 billion won (US$36.4 million), making it the most expensive single-film production in South Korea. The film was also pre-sold to distributors in more than 200 countries, allowing it to recoup roughly half of its net production cost before its domestic release.

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