Directed by Lee Jae-Han of A Moment to Remember (2004), Korean war action film Operation Chromite rounds out its cast with Hollywood star Liam Neeson, who plays the role of U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur.
Set during the 1950s Korean War, the plot concentrates on heroic Korean troopers who, commanded by General MacArthur, carry out a covert mission X-ray that leads the code-named Operation Chromite, and contribute to wrest control of the Korean War and liberate South Korea from the North Korean invaders.
The film also features Korean-Japanese MMA fighter Choo Sung-Hoon as a North Korean soldier, Korean heart-throb Lee Jung-Jae (Assassination, 2015 and New World, 2013) as a South Korean navy lieutenant and Lee Beom-Soo (The Divine Move, 2014) as an elite Soviet-trained North Korean officer.
Lee Jung-Jae and Lee Beom-Soo previously worked together on Oh! Brothers (2003) and City of the Rising Sun (1999).
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film has notched a few quick sales at the start of the European Film Market in Berlin. Seoul-based sales company Finecut has closed deals for Germany, Austria, Benelux, Yugoslavia and Taiwan for the title.
“From the script and actual footage that we’ve seen, we are happy to have acquired a quality film,” said Marko Moellers, acquisition executive of Germany’s Splendid Film.
Operation Chromite is poised for a wide release this summer through Korea’s leading distributor CJ E&M.