James R | On 23, Apr 2016

Principal photography has begun on Bong Joon Ho’s new film, Okja.

The film, produced by Plan B, Lewis Pictures and Kate Street Picture Company, stars Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano in a bold, global adventure.

Netflix announced that it would produce the film in November 2015, marking one of its first forays into Asian film production, as the streaming giant aims to diversify its original content line-up enough to appeal to a global target audience.

Netflix invested a reported $50 million in the project, which follows Mija, a young girl who must risk everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named Okja.

“With Okja I want to show the beauty that can exist between man and animal, and also the horror between them,” says Bong.

Mija will be played by Seohyun An, who is supported by an ensemble of acclaimed actors from around the world, including Devon Bostick (The 100), Lily Collins (To The Bone), Byun Heebong (The Host), Shirley Henderson (Anna Karenina), Daniel Henshall (The Babadook), Yoon Je Moon (Mother), Choi Wooshik (Set Me Free) and Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead).

The talent behind the camera is equally impressive, from the Snowpiercer director to screenwriter Jon Ronson on co-scripting duties. Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Lewis Taewan Kim, Dooho Choi, Woo-sik Seo and Bong Joon Ho are producers.

Principal photography started yesterday in Seoul, South Korea, with the production set to shoot in Canada and the US too, in both English and Korean.

Okja will premiere globally on Netflix in 2017 and will also have a limited day and date theatrical release in the US. Netflix is also looking for theatrical partners for a day and date release in select international territories, including Korea.

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