Song Hye-kyo Unveils Her Role in the Occult Film 'The Black Nuns'

On January 20, a press conference for the film 'The Black Nuns' (검은 수녀들), directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae, took place at Megabox COEX. The event featured the director along with cast members Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been, Lee Jin-wook, and Moon Woo-jin.

'The Black Nuns' tells the story of individuals who engage in a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit.

Director Kwon Hyuk-jae shared, "I understand that 'The Black Nuns' has been in the works for a long time at the production company that created 'The Priests' (검은 사제들). When I first read the script, I found it incredibly intense, and the emotional impact of the ending was profound. I made a significant effort to stay true to the script and worked hard with a talented crew to create something special."

As a spin-off of 'The Priests', Kwon expressed his excitement about returning to this universe after ten years, stating, "I have always been a fan of 'The Priests'. When I first received the script for 'The Black Nuns', I was surprised by how fresh it felt for a spin-off. A key aspect is that nuns participate in an exorcism, which is not permitted by Catholic doctrine. The emotional connection at the end is particularly moving. The exorcism scenes require a unique rhythm and tension, and I hope the actors' intensity is palpable."

Notably, actor Gang Dong-won makes a special appearance in the film. Kwon remarked, "I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the script. I believe fans of 'The Priests' will be thrilled to see him. His presence during filming was touching, and I was impressed by his focus. Gang Dong-won has a long-standing trust with the production company, and I am grateful for his contribution to enriching the film."

Song Hye-kyo plays Sister Unia, a character she passionately portrayed. She expressed her hopes for a positive reception, saying, "We worked really hard on this film, and I hope it resonates well with audiences. We've been promoting it diligently, and it seems like there are high expectations for 'The Black Nuns'. While I have some worries, I am also excited and hope for a lot of love from viewers."

In this film, Song Hye-kyo takes on a grittier role, including smoking scenes. She shared, "This is my first time portraying a character who smokes. As a non-smoker, I had many concerns about how to approach it, but it became clear that it was essential for the character. I practiced smoking for six months before filming started, as the first scene opens with a close-up of me smoking. I didn't want to fake it. I put in a lot of effort into both acting and smoking practice."

Reflecting on her character's moral dilemmas, she said, "Initially, I thought Sister Unia would save the possessed child without question, but I found myself questioning whether I could do the same. I had many discussions with the director and Yeo-been about this. I approached the role with the belief that a nun would act in that way."

Regarding her return to the screen after 11 years, Song Hye-kyo explained, "This project felt like fate. After finishing 'The Glory' (더 글로리), I didn't want to return to a love story. I was looking for genre scripts, and when I read 'The Black Nuns', I felt it would challenge me and reveal new facets of my acting."

She also shared her thoughts on the theme of female solidarity in the film, stating, "I have many happy memories working with Yeo-been. Although the film's content is not joyful, the process of creating it and getting closer to each other mirrored the characters' journey. Portraying two women with different beliefs coming together was challenging but enjoyable. It allowed us to connect personally, enhancing our performances."

Jeon Yeo-been, who plays Michaela, expressed gratitude for the audience's anticipation, saying, "We worked hard to bring the script to life. I hope audiences come to the theater to experience our story."

She emphasized the importance of reactions in her character's performance, stating, "For Michaela, reactions to her surroundings and others are crucial. I aimed to focus on the situation and give my best. I do feel some regret, wishing I could have done even better."

Discussing her chemistry with Song Hye-kyo, Jeon noted, "It was challenging to deliver harsh lines to Unia, but I think it reflects the character's feelings. Michaela has a strong opposition to Unia's beliefs but also recognizes her need for help. This connection goes beyond just being women; it’s about a shared belief in saving a life. I hope this dynamic is well portrayed in the film."

Lee Jin-wook, who plays Baor, shared his excitement about working with such talented actors, saying, "I felt less pressure and more anticipation. I believe we will achieve good results. I just saw the film, and I think it turned out well. I hope many people come to see it."

Moon Woo-jin, who portrays Hee-jun, a character possessed by an evil spirit, shared his approach to the role, stating, "I focused on performing well without letting the film down. I am eager to see how audiences will react."

He also discussed the challenges of his character's aggressive scenes, saying, "There are harsh lines in the script, and I approached them as just part of the film. There’s a scene where I spit on Song Hye-kyo, and I was quite anxious about whether to actually do it. That was my biggest concern."

Moon added, "I was offered counseling before and after filming to address any potential trauma from such intense scenes. However, I felt fine and didn’t think I needed it. The filming environment was so enjoyable that I left without any trauma. I’m just grateful we completed the film successfully."

'The Black Nuns' is set to hit theaters on January 24.