9 Years After Alien: Covenant, Michael Fassbender’s Return to Sci-Fi Reveals Wild First Look

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The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is underway, and several eagerly awaited new films have already had their world premieres. Highlights include the horror film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma by Jane Schoenbrun, known for I Saw the TV Glow, and the crime drama Paper Tiger starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller. The festival is also celebrating classic movies with special screenings of films like Pan’s Labyrinth, Ken Russell’s The Devils, and the original The Fast and the Furious.

South Korean director Na Hong-jin, known for films like The Wailing and The Yellow Sea, debuted his new movie, Hope, at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film marks a departure for Na Hong-jin, venturing into the science fiction genre. Along with early positive reviews, distributor NEON has released the first trailer, which includes a surprising reveal: Michael Fassbender, returning to sci-fi for the first time since 2017’s Alien: Covenant, is playing an alien in the film.

Hope Movie Trailer Reveals Bizarre First Look at Wild New Sci-Fi

The new movie, Hope, takes place in the small, isolated village of Hope Harbor in South Korea. The story begins when the villagers wake up to find a strange creature wreaking havoc. It quickly becomes clear that this isn’t an isolated incident, as other monsters and creatures are appearing and attacking the town. The film’s trailer suggests a variety of these beings – possibly monsters or aliens – have descended upon this quiet village.

The movie Hope boasts a strong cast including popular South Korean actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-Sung, and Hoyeon from Squid Game. However, the trailer revealed a surprise: Michael Fassbender and his wife, Alicia Vikander, are both starring in the film. Interestingly, reviews and interviews have confirmed they won’t be playing humans, but rather aliens within the movie’s storyline.

IndieWire critic David Ehrlich gave the film a harsh ‘D+’ review, calling its creature effects some of the worst he’s seen, comparing them to those in Syfy Channel movies or ‘The Mummy Returns.’ He also pointed out the surprising sight of Michael Fassbender playing a role similar to ‘The Scorpion King’ in 2026. Despite the negative review, ‘Hope’ currently has a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though this is based on only eleven reviews.

Despite not having a release date yet, director Na Hong-jin is already planning a sequel to Hope. He shared at a press conference in Cannes that a script is finished and he hopes to film it if he gets the chance. He believes fans can easily envision a continuation of the story.

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2026-05-18 17:11