No Other Choice: On the red carpet with Lee Byung-hun and Park Chak-wook at London Film Festival 2025

Adapted from the American novel The Ax by Donald Westgate, No Other Choice is the latest feature from South Korean writer and director Park Chan-wook, which brings to screen a dark satirical comedy-thriller with undertones of violence and modern social critique, set against intense visuals from cinematographer Kim Wo-Hyung and a plethora of bold classical music choices.

Starring Lee Byung-hun as Man-su, a happily married man with two children who is suddenly laid off and made redundant after 25 years of service from his job in the paper industry, the narrative follows his quest to provide for his family with a few unsuccessful jobs and an application to work in the rival company, Paper Moon. Convinced he is the right man for the job, he decides the only way to get it is to eliminate his competition and murder them one by one.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of speaking to Byung-hun on the red carpet at the London Film Festival, where he spoke about why he wanted to helm this story and what it was like working with the director to adapt this book for the screen.

We also spoke to Chak-wook about his choice of casting, why he wanted to tell this story and how he felt about being at the film festival in London to showcase his new film.

Ezelle Alblas

No Other Choice does not have a release date yet.

Read more reviews from our London Film Festival coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the London Film Festival website here.

Watch the trailer for No Other Choice here: