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| ▲ This photo provided by NEW shows filmmaker Pil Gam-sung, director of the comedy film "My Daughter is a Zombie." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- "What if someone you love became a zombie? Could a zombie be part of your family?" Director Pil Gam-sung said these questions fascinated him and led him to helm the upcoming comedy film "My Daughter is a Zombie."
Speaking to reporters at a cafe in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong on Tuesday, Pil said he was deeply moved by the premise of the original webtoon written by Lee Yoon-chang, upon which the film is based.
"My Daughter is a Zombie" follows Jung-hwan (played by Jo Jung-suk), a zookeeper who confronts a crisis when his daughter Soo-ah (Choi Yu-ri) becomes infected with a zombie virus. Despite Pil’s background in thrillers such as the 2021 film "Hostage: Missing Celebrity" and the 2023 drama "A Day of Misfortune," the director opted for a warm, humorous tone in this project.
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| ▲ This still of film "My Daughter is a Zombie" is provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
"As a father to a teenage daughter, the story hit close to home. The original was both sad and heartfelt, and I wanted to bring out that emotion through a blend of wit and poignancy," Pil said.
He aimed to preserve key moments from the webtoon, particularly the scene where Soo-ah, now a zombie, tries to live a normal life by attending school after being trained by her family. "That moment shows Jung-hwan realizing his daughter can survive on her own — even without his protection," Pil explained.
Pil also revealed that the original webtoon artist makes a cameo in the film and contributed artwork that becomes a key prop. "He was so moved by the adaptation," Pil said.
The film stars a powerhouse cast including Choi Yu-ri, Jo Jung-suk, Lee Jung-eun, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Yoon Kyung-ho. Pil said he was thrilled that all his first-choice actors accepted the roles, adding, "I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Jung-hwan other than Jo Jung-suk."
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| ▲ This still of film "My Daughter is a Zombie" is provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
A standout character from the webtoon, a cat named Aeyong-i, was also cast after an audition process. "Cats can't be trained easily, so there were concerns," said Pil, "but Aeyong-i is the soul of 'My Daughter is a Zombie.' It wouldn't be the same without the cat."
The film also features BoA’s hit "No.1" as a thematic element. "I loved the song, and the lyrics — like ‘You're still my No.1’ — perfectly matched the movie’s emotional core," Pil said.
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| ▲ This still of film "My Daughter is a Zombie" is provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Set to premiere on July 30, "My Daughter is a Zombie" is currently ranked No. 1 in ticket reservations, ahead of major summer releases like "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet," "F1: The Movie," and "Fantastic Four: A New Beginning." Pil expressed both gratitude and nerves. "It's an emotional, comedic zombie movie — something the whole family can enjoy safely, which is rare these days," he said.
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| ▲ This photo provided by NEW shows filmmaker Pil Gam-sung, director of the comedy film "My Daughter is a Zombie." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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