SEOUL Korean western "The Good The Bad, The Weird," has been picked up for North American distribution by IFC Films.
The pic, helmed by Kim Jee-woon, goes on release in Korea today (Thursday) with unprecedented levels of local interest. Advanced bookings for the film account for 70% of electronic ticket sales in recent days, according to local sources. That is the highest figure this year for a Korean film.
International sales and the Korean release are both handled by CJ Entertainment.
IFC says it is looking to release the pic in the first half of 2009, with a likely platform outing in five major cities and a possible expansion to other regional markets later.
Kim, who next directs a remake of French crimer, "Max et les Ferailleurs" for France's Studiocanal, said this week that he give the film a final re-edit before an international cut is screened in the Special Presentation section of the Toronto festival in September.
Comedy adventure pic, which stars Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun and Jung Woo-sung, preemed in Official Selection at Cannes in May in a version that Kim said needed further special effects work and color correction. In fact he has since trimmed the run time for Korean release.
During Cannes IFC acquired "The Chaser," the other Korean film to get a high profile festival slot.
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