The zombie craze never dies. For years now, stories of the undead keep us thrilled as the decaying flesh eaters fill movies, comics, and television shows. Perhaps one of the best entries in the genre was Yeon Sang-Ho's Train to Busan. The action picked thrill ride took zombies to the next level as a father and daughter try to escape the outbreak on a speeding train in South Korea.
Considering how popular the film was, we knew it wouldn't be long until a sequel would come along. The second part called Peninsula takes place four years after Train to Busan but won't be a direct continuation but more so a spiritual sequel. Much like what George Romero did with his movies, these will have some connectivity but will not carry the same narrative forward.
Now, new details have been released that give us a small capsule look at what will be happening in that world when the sequel releases. This is what he had to say about the upcoming film:
"It takes place four years after Train To Busan, in the same universe, but it doesn’t continue the story and has different characters. Government authority has been decimated after the zombie outbreak in Korea, and there is nothing left except the geographical traits of the location – which is why the film is called Peninsula."
"The idea of being able to build a post-apocalyptic world – which would be sort of savage but also in a way like ancient times, or like ruined modern times, with rules of its own – was interesting to me. There could be many stories that could keep coming out of that world. Destroyed, isolated, extreme, but with hope of escape and humanism, and the way world powers would look at this place. There could be a lot of material with a lot of greater significance."
"Before, the way a Korean director would ‘go to the US’ would be to go make an American film with American actors in English. Now, with multiple platforms like Netflix burgeoning and the most recent effect of Parasite, everything has changed. I think the role of the films that come next will be very important. Just because Parasite was a success doesn’t mean we need another Parasite. We could see more diversified interest for, say, a Korean-style blockbuster or Korean independent films. It’s just breaking through a wall once that is difficult."
The upcoming sequel will be released by Well Go USA in Summer 2020. Plans for a theatrical release will most likely be delayed or cancelled due to the current coronavirus pandemic.