Park Chan-Wook's English-Language Debut 'Stoker' Hits Theaters On March 1, 2013

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by Kevin Jagernauth
July 17, 2012 6:50 PM
10 Comments

While initially a picture many hoped would land at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Park Chan-wook's eagerly anticipated English language debut "Stoker" has been both heavily under wraps and long awaited, but now we're less than a year away from release and we're rolling the dice on a fall festival appearance.

Fox Searchlight has announced that "Stoker" has been given a March 1, 2013 release date and we're willing to bet that the likelihood of a fall premiere at Venice -- where he won an award for "Sympathy For Lady Vengeance" in 2005 and served on the jury in 2006 -- is looking stronger and stronger. So why are we so excited for this one? First there's the cast: Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, Alden Ehrenreich, Jacki Weaver, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney, Lucas Till and more. Then, there's the Hitchockian premise. Penned by Wentworth Miller -- under the name Ted Foulke -- the Black List script is described as a fantastical, fairy tale-like family drama that follows the story of an eccentric teen, India (Wasikowska), whose enigmatic and estranged uncle (Goode) returns to the family after the death of the girl’s father. People, however, start to go missing in her hometown at the same time and she soon discovers that her uncle may be the cause. Toss in a score by Clint Mansell, and we're in, hook, line and sinker.

For anyone who thought this might be an awards player, this release date rules that out, but given the logline, it seems more like a straight genre piece anyway. Now, how about a trailer? Okay, if not that, then some official stills already? [BoxOfficeMojo]

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Arch | July 20, 2012 3:12 AMReply

Well I must say, I'm more worried by the fact that to me Thirst was a semi-disappointment (an adaptation of Therese Raquin with vampires, THAT sounded SO great on paper).
ramyun | July 18, 2012 5:36 AMReply

I hope Mr. Park's genius translates to the English language. Wong Kar Wai's debut was a bit disappointing.
el CHINOCUDEIRO | July 18, 2012 5:03 AMReply

Why Park Chan Wook has sold his talent to the U.S. DOLLARS?
IÂ´,m so afraid. His movies are not for american-comercial minds.

;(
Mike | July 18, 2012 9:19 AM

Wow, way to stereotype, because all US films are commercial.
krc | July 18, 2012 4:27 AMReply

I love how most of 2012 releases either suck or are moved to 2013. It looked like it would be such a good year :(
Daniel | July 17, 2012 10:23 PMReply

I'd agree that after reading the Script...it probably wasn't Oscar Material (unless any of the actors REALLY knocked it out of the park)

But still this is a damn shame...I was really hoping this would get a 2012 release...Damn you Fox Searchlight for making us wait even longer...lets hope the Mayan's weren't correct with their 2012 End of the World predictions
r | July 17, 2012 8:40 PMReply

That release date tells me it will be shit.
Mike | July 17, 2012 11:37 PM

With a filmmaker, & cast like that, and a Black List script, chances are it's the premise & the fact that Fox Searchlight knows better than anyone how to navigate awards season suggests it's just not a fit for that arena, not that it's shit.
Jim | July 17, 2012 7:28 PMReply

This was never an Oscar vehicle considering the subject matter. You just need to read the screenplay to see that.
Jahan | July 18, 2012 9:08 AM

Certainly not shit, but I gotta say the script isn't exactly top-grade stuff either. Visually though I expect this to be nothing less than dazzling.