Based on the 2009 novel ‘Princess Deokhye’ by GWON Bi-yeong, the film features SON as the titular monarch, the last princess of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, who was taken hostage by Japan during the Japanese Colonial Era (1910-45). PARK plays Jang-han, an independence fighter who has fallen in love with Deokhye and whose mission is to free the princess and return her to Korea.

The project, which was initially introduced during a co-production market at the Busan International Film Festival in 2012, is HUR jin-ho’s second consecutive early 20th century drama, following his Korea-China co-produced Dangerous Liaisons (2012) adaptation. HUR is known for his sensitive melodramas, which include Christmas in August (1998) and One Fine Spring Day (2001).

2016 is shaping up to be a busy year for SON, who has already appeared in the Korean-Chinese action comedy Bad Guys Always Die and will next be seen in the thriller The Truth Beneath with KIM Joo-hyuk. SON previously worked with director HUR on 2005’s April Snow. War of the Arrows (2011) star PARK most recently featured in Love and… (2015) from director ZHANG Lu.

The Last Princess is one of many high profile Colonial Era films on the way this year, including this month’s LOVE, LIES and new films by PARK Chan-wook (The Handmaiden) and KIM Jee-woon (Secret Agent). The film is expected to hit screens in the second half of the year.