Wonderland (2024 film)

2024 film by Kim Tae-yong

Wonderland

Theatrical release poster

Hangul|

원더랜드

Revised Romanization| Wondeoraendeu
McCune–Reischauer| Wŏndŏraendŭ
Directed by| Kim Tae-yong
Written by| Kim Tae-yong
Min Ye-ji
Produced by|

* Oh Jeong-wan
* Park Kwan-soo

Starring|

* Tang Wei
* Bae Suzy
* Park Bo-gum
* Jung Yu-mi
* Choi Woo-shik

Cinematography| Kim Seong-jin
Park Hong-yeol
Edited by| Kim Hyung-ju
Music by| Bang Jun-seok
Dalpalan
Kang Seong-su

Production
companies

* Bom Film Productions
* Kirin Productions

Distributed by|

* Acemaker Movieworks

Release date

* June 5, 2024 (2024-06-05)

Running time

| 113 minutes
Country| South Korea
Languages|

* Korean
* Mandarin

Budget| ₩18 billion[1]
Box office| US$4.3 million[2]

Wonderland (Korean: 원더랜드) is a 2024 South Korean science fiction romantic drama film written and directed by Kim Tae-yong, and starring Tang Wei, Bae Suzy, Park Bo-gum, Jung Yu-mi, and Choi Woo-shik.[3] The story follows a group of people who interact with an A.I. program to communicate with an A.I. generated version of their deceased loved one.[4]

The film was released theatrically on June 5, 2024,[5][6] and on Netflix on July 26, 2024.

## Plot

[edit]

An archeologist named Bai Li sets out on an expedition in the desert while making frequent calls to her young daughter Bai Jia. Jeong-in, a flight attendant, is often calling her boyfriend Tae-joo, an astronaut. Both Bai Li's family and Jeong-in are customers of Wonderland, an artificial intelligence that allows people to communicate with their departed loved ones through simulated video calls. Jeong-in brings the real Tae-joo home after he awakens from his coma.

Hae-ri, a Wonderland manager, fields video calls from her parents, who tease her about her relationship with her junior, Hyeon-soo. Hae-ri and Hyeon-soo handle the case of a grandmother whose dead grandson in the Wonderland system is exploiting her, and that of Yong-sik, a dying man whom Hyeon-soo suspects is his biological father.

Bai Li's mother Hwa-ran considers ending the service and telling her granddaughter that Li has passed away. Meanwhile, Jeong-in becomes uncomfortable with how Tae-joo has changed since he woke up, and begins to turn to the Wonderland version of him. Tae-joo is suspected of starting a fire in their apartment building, frustrating Jeong-in further. A suspicious Tae-joo visits Jeong-in at her gate and learns of her Wonderland subscription; he emotionally bids her goodbye at the gate.

While at the airport Hwa-ran loses track of Jia, and her Wonderland service is deactivated while searching for the girl. Within the program Bai Li attempts to leave and help find her daughter but is stopped by various roadblocks. She eventually drives through a sandstorm, approaching the operating system and causing glitches in other simulacra despite Hae-ri and Hyeon-soo's attempts to stop her. They summon Sung-joon, who lets Bai Li enter the central server. Hae-ri, having lost her own parents, allows Bai Li to move to the airport network, where she asks the Wonderland subscribers to help her find her daughter. Tae-joo rescues Jia, who accepts her mother's death. Jeong-in tells Tae-joo why she subscribed to Wonderland. She deactivates her service and the two reconcile.

In the epilogue, Hyeon-soo introduces his mother to the Wonderland version of Yong-sik.

## Cast

[edit]

* Tang Wei as Bai Li
* Bae Suzy as Jeong-in
* Park Bo-gum as Tae-joo
* Jung Yu-mi as Hae-ri[7]
* Choi Woo-shik as Hyeon-soo
* Nina Paw as Hwa-ran
* Sung Byung-sook as Song Jeong-ran[8]
* Choi Moo-sung as Lee Yong-sik
* Tang Jun-sang as Choi Jin-gu, Jeong-ran's grandson[8]
* Lee Eol as Hae-ri's father
* Kang Ae-sim as Hae-ri's mother
* Jeon Su-ji as Jeong-in's colleague
* Darcy Paquet as Danny
* Gong Yoo as Sung-joon[9]
* Kim Sung-ryung as Hyeon-soo's mother

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

The project was conceived in June 2019. Kim Tae-yong wrote the screenplay and directed the film 9 years after his last film, Late Autumn, which was released in 2010.[3]

### Casting

[edit]

On June 26, 2019, Bae Suzy received an offer to appear in the film.[10] On July 2, 2019, Choi Woo-shik's agency reported that they considered a proposal of appearance in the film positively.[11] On 25 September 2019, Park Bo-gum's agency Blossom Entertainment reported that they reviewed an offer of appearance in the film.[12] In August 2019, a representative from the production team reported that Tang Wei was considering the offer of lead role in her husband's film.[13] On November 11, 2019 it was reported that Jung Yu-mi joined the cast of the film.[14] On 11 March 2020 it was reported that Gong Yoo considered the role of Tang Wei's husband.[15]

### Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in April 2020.[16] In July 2020 the film was shot in studios in Paju, Gyeonggi Province and Jeonju.[17] Filming was completed in September 2020, except for some scenes featuring Tang Wei, which were scheduled for filming in January 2021.[18]

## Release

[edit]

On October 22, 2020, distributors Acemaker Movieworks and Netflix reached an agreement that the film would be released worldwide by Netflix except in South Korea and China. Netflix disclosed that they were in discussion with Acemaker for overseas releases since the beginning of the filming. After long negotiations, Acemaker finally agreed to a contract with Netflix for about 30% of post-production cost. The film was planned to be released on Netflix.[18]

Wonderland was released in theaters in South Korea on June 5, 2024, and on Netflix on July 26, 2024.

## Reception

[edit]

The film was released on June 5, 2024 on 1,165 screens.[19] It opened at first place on Korean box office with 94,777 admissions and a gross of US$615,180,[20] it retained its first place for next 3 days.[21]

As of July 19, 2024[update], the film has grossed US$4,263,745 from 625,348 admissions.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kim Tae-ho (June 11, 2024). 영화 '원더랜드'에 사활 건 투자배급사 '에이스메이커' ['Ace Maker', an investment and distribution company, has a life-or-death stake in the movie 'Wonderland']. Newstof (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
2. ^ a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2024". KOFIC. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
3. ^ a b Noh Gyu-min (March 13, 2020). [단독]박보검·수지·공유·탕웨이·정유미·최우식 '원더랜드' 넷플릭스로 해외공개 [[TEN Issue] "These actors are in a movie?"...'Wonderland Alien' Unbelievable express lineup]. Ten Asia (in Korean). The Korea Economic Daily. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
4. ^ "Wonderlan Movie 2020". HanCinema. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
5. ^ Kim Na-yeon (March 22, 2024). 오래 기다렸다..박보검·수지→공유·탕웨이 '원더랜드', 6월 개봉 확정 [공식] [I've waited a long time...Park Bo-gum, Suzy → Gong Yoo, Tang Wei 'Wonderland' confirmed to be released in June [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024 - via Naver.
6. ^ Lee Se-bin (April 23, 2024). 탕웨이·수지·박보검 '원더랜드' 6월 5일 개봉 [Tang Wei, Suzy, Park Bo-gum's 'Wonderland' opens on June 5]. IS Plus (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
7. ^ Schwartz, William (October 4, 2020). "[HanCinema's News] Jung Yu-mi Marks Strange Shift From Feminism to Fantasy". HanCinema. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
8. ^ a b Hong Bae-eum (June 1, 2024). 탕준상-성병숙, 우리도 '원더랜드' 출연해요~(VIP시사회)[뉴스엔TV] [Tang Jun-sang and Seong Byeong-sook, we will also appear in 'Wonderland'~ (VIP preview) [News & TV]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024 - via Naver.
9. ^ Kang Seo-jeong (May 13, 2024). '원더랜드', 비주얼 잔치 예고..박보검·수지에 공유까지 특별출연 ['Wonderland', a visual feast announced... Park Bo-gum, Suzy, and even Gong Yoo make special appearances]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.+[ko]&rft.atitle='원더랜드',+비주얼+잔치+예고..박보검·수지에+공유까지+특별출연&rft.date=2024-05-13&rft.au=Kang+Seo-jeong&rft_id=https://m.entertain.naver.com/movie/article/109/0005076133&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Wonderland+(2024+film)" class="Z3988">
10. ^ Hyung-Hwa (June 26, 2019). 수지, '만추' 김태용 감독 신작 '원더랜드' 호흡 [Suzy, breathing 'Wonderland', director Kim Tae-yong's 'Late Autumn']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
11. ^ Jo Yoo-kyung (July 2, 2019). 최우식 측 "영화 '원더랜드' 제안 받고 긍정 검토 중" [공식입장] [Choi Woo-sik's "Affirmative review after receiving a proposal for the movie 'Wonderland'" [Official position]]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
12. ^ Seong gyeong-ji (September 25, 2019). 박보검, 수지와 '원더랜드' 커플될까..소속사 "긍정검토중" [Park Bo-gum, Suzy and'Wonderland' will be a couple...]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
13. ^ Schwartz, William (August 30, 2019). "[HanCinema's News] Tang Wei Considers Offer to Appear in Husband Kim Tae-yong's Latest Movie "Wonderland"". HanCinema. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
14. ^ Hyung-Hwa (November 11, 2019). [단독]정유미, '원더랜드' 합류..배수지·박보검·최우식·탕웨이 등 라인업 [[Exclusive] Jung Yu-mi joins 'Wonderland']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
15. ^ Schwartz, William (March 11, 2020). "[HanCinema's News] Gong Yoo Considering Offer for "Wonderland"". HanCinema. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
16. ^ Jo Ji-young (March 11, 2020). "[SC이슈] "탕웨이→공유까지"…초호화 캐스팅 '원더랜드', 코로나19 여파로 4월 크랭크인" [[SC Issue] "Tang Wei → Sharing"... Super luxurious casting 'Wonderland' cranks in April in the aftermath of Corona 19]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Chosun. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
17. ^ Hwang Soo-yeon (July 23, 2020). "파주에서♥" 탕웨이, 남편 김태용 감독과 영화 촬영 중인 근황 [★해시태그] ["In Paju♥" Tang Wei, husband, director Kim Tae-yong, and the recent filming of a movie]. X-Sports News. Naver. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
18. ^ a b Hyung-hwa (October 22, 2020). [단독]박보검·수지·공유·탕웨이·정유미·최우식 '원더랜드' 넷플릭스로 해외공개 [[Exclusive] Park Bo-gum, Suji, Gong-Gong, Tang Wei, Jung Yu-mi, Choi Woo-sik,'Wonderland' released overseas on Netflix]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
19. ^ "Wonderland, 2024 at KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Korean films". KOFIC. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
20. ^ Jang Ah-reum (June 6, 2024). '원더랜드' 개봉 첫날 1위…변요한·신혜선 '그녀가 죽었다' 100만 돌파 [Nbox] ['Wonderland' ranked first on the first day of release... Byun Yo-han and Shin Hye-sun's 'She's Dead' exceeds 1 million [Nbox]]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
21. ^ Lee Da-won (June 9, 2024). '원더랜드' 개봉 4일째 1위 ['Wonderland' ranked first on the 4th day of release]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 9, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Wonderland at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
* Wonderland at IMDb
* Wonderland at HanCinema

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Kim Tae-yong

* Memento Mori (1999)
* Family Ties (2006)
* Late Autumn (2010)
* Wonderland (2024)

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