Netflix is reportedly developing an English-language adaptation of the South Korean thriller Time to Hunt, originally directed by Yoon Sung-hyun. The film initially premiered at the 70th Berlin Film Festival in February of last year and would have received a full theatrical run if not for the worldwide quarantine precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix eventually acquired the distribution rights for Time to Hunt, releasing the film on their streaming service as a Netflix Original two months after its debut in Berlin. Yoon's film received generally favorable reviews amongst critics, though audience reactions were somewhat more tepid.
The story follows four young men (one of whom is played by Choi Woo-shik of Parasite fame) in a dystopian vision of South Korea as they plan to steal a large sum of money from an illegal gambling house. Following the heist, the gambling house's owners enlist the aid of a ruthless bounty hunter named Han (Park Hae-soo) to track down and kill the four friends in retaliation. Beyond Choi Woo-shik's involvement in both films, Time to Hunt bears another similarity to Bong Joon-ho's Parasite in that its two halves starkly differ in tone and style. The film synthesizes disparate genre conventions to create a product that ultimately transcends genre classification like many of the most acclaimed South Korean films.
Deadline recently reported that Netflix is in the process of developing an English-language adaptation of Time to Hunt. Adam Randall, who previously collaborated with the streamer on iBoy and Night Teeth, will serve as director for the film. At the time of writing, Netflix has yet to disclose a release window for the film.
Netflix's adaptation of Time to Hunt is significant in that it marks the first time that the streamer will adapt one of its own non-English productions for English-speaking audiences. The streamer has previously achieved monumental success with its original non-English programs like Dark, Alice in Borderland, and most recently, Squid Game (which is now Netflix's most-watched original show of all time). Time to Hunt's English adaptation may indicate a new approach to localizing international programs on the platform.
Even if Time to Hunt's English adaptation is successful, Netflix would be wise to continue to invest in non-English projects. Netflix's diverse and highly accessible library of international programs sets the company apart from its competitors in the streaming industry. Hopefully, the streamer will continue to champion lesser-known international filmmakers so that breakout hits like Squid Game can continue to find success for years to come.
Source: Deadline