▲ Actress Song Hye-kyo speaks during the production briefing for occult film "Dark Nuns," held on Dec. 16, 2024, in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- “I’ve found new joy in acting, thanks to The Glory. That’s why I explored many scripts in the thriller genre for my next project, and that’s how I encountered Dark Nuns," said actress Song Hye-kyo, during the production briefing for Dark Nuns, held on Friday in Seoul. 

"I’m excited to show another side of myself," she added. 

Set to premiere on January 24, Dark Nuns is the sequel to the 2015 hit The Priests, which attracted over 5.44 million viewers. 

The occult thriller follows Sister Yunia (played by Song Hye-kyo) and Sister Michaela (played by Jeon Yeo-been) as they perform a forbidden exorcism ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful demon.

▲ Filmmaker Kwon Hyuk-jae speaks during the production briefing for occult film "Dark Nuns," held on Dec. 16, 2024, in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

This marks Song Hye-kyo’s return to Korean cinema after more than a decade since My Brilliant Life and her follow-up to the globally acclaimed Netflix series The Glory. Song described her experience on set, saying, “The moment I wore the nun’s habit, I truly felt like I was transforming into Yunia. However, battling demonic forces while delivering emotionally intense lines was an incredibly challenging experience.”

Jeon Yeo-been, who plays Michaela, a nun who decides to join the forbidden ritual, praised Song Hye-kyo, saying, “She’s been an icon of admiration since my school days. On set, she had a quiet charisma that embraced everyone, so much so that I began calling her ‘my Yunia.’” 

Jeon emphasized the importance of reacting to Yunia’s actions in her role, noting, “Yunia’s gaze was my greatest source of strength as Michaela.”

Song also shared her appreciation for Jeon, stating, “Although she says I was her support, the truth is, Yeo-been was my pillar of strength. Just as Yunia cannot exist without Michaela, I couldn’t have done this without her.”

Directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae (The Troubleshooter, Count), Dark Nuns introduces a fresh perspective on the exorcism genre. “Traditionally, nuns are forbidden from performing exorcisms, which adds a unique layer to this story. The tension and obstacles they face bring a new dimension of excitement,” said Kwon.

With a compelling narrative and a talented cast, Dark Nuns is expected to captivate audiences early next year.

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