Park Chan-wook to Start Filming Violent Comedy-Thriller ‘I Can’t Help It’

Korean film maestro Park Chan-wook, at 60, continues to captivate the global film landscape. This Saturday, he begins production on his 12th feature film, an adaptation of American novelist Donald Westlake’s 1996 novel “The Ax.” The movie, currently titled “I Can’t Help It,” stars Korean screen icons Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, with financing and distribution by the local studio heavyweight, CJ ENM.

Westlake’s novel was previously adapted into French by Costa Gavras as the 2005 film “Le Couperet” (The Axe). Similar to its predecessor, Park’s adaptation follows a man named Man-soo, played by Lee, who loses his job at a paper company after years of dedication. Desperation consumes him as he embarks on a treacherous quest for new employment, leading to the grim decision to eliminate his job competitors. Son Ye-jin portrays Mi-ri, Man-soo’s warm-hearted wife, offering a glimpse into the emotional toll of his choices.

“I Can’t Help It” marks Park’s return to film features following the critically acclaimed “Decision to Leave” (2022), a romantic mystery drama. In the interim, Park co-directed the HBO miniseries “The Sympathizer,” based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, with Robert Downey Jr. co-starring. Additionally, last year witnessed the 20th anniversary re-release of his globally impactful and ultraviolent classic “Old Boy” (2003).

Park and Lee have a significant history, having found early career success together with the 2000 mystery thriller “Joint Security Area,” which Quentin Tarantino praised as one of his favorite films since the 1990s. Lee Byung-hun has since evolved into one of Korea’s most versatile actors, gaining massive global recognition for his role as the Front Man in Netflix’s hit series “Squid Game.” Son Ye-jin, known as Korea’s “Nation’s First Love” due to her vibrant early film roles, collaborates with Park for the first time in this project.

Rounding out the cast are Lee Sung-min (“The Spy Gone North”) and Yeom Hye-ran (“Life”), who will play a couple facing similar unemployment struggles as Man-soo. Park Hee-soon (“The Scam”) takes on the role of the paper company’s team leader, while Cha Seung-won (“One Ordinary Day”) appears as one of Man-soo’s job competitors. Yoo Yeon-seok (“Mr. Sunshine”) plays Mi-ri’s colleague.

CJ ENM has not confirmed a target release date for “I Can’t Help It.” Nonetheless, Park’s strong relationship with the Cannes Film Festival, where he has premiered four of his films, suggests a potential debut in May.