Bong Joon Ho on unexpected ‘Parasite’ success: ‘I remain unchanged by it’

Roughly two years after Bong Joon Ho became the first-ever Korean director to claim the coveted Palme d'Or at the annual Cannes Film Festival for Parasite, the 51-year-old returned to Cannes and reflected on the 2019 thriller.

"I had no idea that Parasite would be a such a global hit," Bong said during a Wednesday (July 7) interview, per Variety. "Its success was far beyond my expectations. Though I made it in exactly the same way as normal. And I remain unchanged by it. I mean, look at me, I'm exactly the same."

Parasite went on to snag four Oscars at the 92nd Academy Awards, including best picture.

The Hollywood Reporter reported in January 2020 that a Parasite limited series was headed to HBO, bringing acclaimed filmmaker Adam McKay into the fold.

Later that month, Bong shed light on the developing project during this interview with TheWrap: "So I had all these key ideas accumulated from when I started writing the script. I just couldn't include all those ideas in the two-hour running time of the film, so they're all stored in my iPad and my goal with this limited series is to create a six-hour-long film."

Bong gave another update—albeit vague—at Cannes on Wednesday.

"The subject continues to have resonance in France and elsewhere," he said. "Many of [us] would like to be rich, but I think in all of us there is a fear of becoming poor. I'm involved in the HBO adaptation. It will be a black comedy. I'm working in close cooperation with screenwriter Adam McKay. This time, I'm giving my input as a producer." The 2021 Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday (July 6) and will run through July 17.

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