Netflix's upcoming black comedy film "Good News" draws inspiration from a real 1970s airplane hijacking but reimagines the story with fictional characters to speak to modern viewers, director Byun Sung-hyun revealed during a press conference in Seoul. The film is based on the notorious Yodogo hijacking incident of 1970, when nine members of the Japanese communist group Red Army Faction commandeered a plane traveling from Tokyo to Fukuoka and forced the pilots to fly to North Korea.

"This film was inspired by the true story of a plane hijacking incident that occurred in the 1970s. It doesn't completely follow the true story," Byun explained at the press conference held at a Seoul hotel on Tuesday. "We incorporated a story that can be relevant to the current generation. We wanted to show this through recreated characters, not real people."

The film features a star-studded cast led by Sul Kyung-gu, who portrays a mysterious character known only as "Nobody," a troubleshooter whose real name remains unknown throughout the story. Sul, who has previously collaborated with director Byun on three other projects, admitted to struggling with the enigmatic nature of his character. "This character was neither this nor that and just called as Nobody. So, honestly, I was confused," Sul said. "No matter how many times I read the script, he was a character who didn't blend in with the others."

Ryoo Seung-bum takes on the role of Park Sang-hyeon, the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency who oversees the response operations during the hijacking crisis. Ryoo described his character's complexity as central to conveying the director's vision. "He was a captivating character where his two-sided nature clashed. As I familiarized myself with the script, I felt that Sang-hyeon, more than any other character, clearly carried the director's message he wanted to convey," Ryoo explained.

Young actor Hong Kyung plays Air Force Lieutenant Seo Go-myung, a role that required him to master dialogue in three languages - English, Japanese, and Korean - while also learning to operate radar control systems. "When I first received the screenplay and read my role, I felt a spark. I was drawn to the ambition to move forward and achieve something, which looked like the youthful recklessness one might have at a young age," Hong shared about his character's motivation.

"Good News" has already made its mark on the international film festival circuit, with its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and its Asian premiere at the Busan International Film Festival last month. Both screenings were met with enthusiastic audience responses, much to the relief and satisfaction of the cast and crew. "Since they speak English in Toronto, I was curious if they would understand the film, but they were very responsive from the start. I felt good," director Byun reflected on the Toronto premiere.

Sul Kyung-gu echoed the positive reception, noting how the Toronto success gave the team confidence heading into the Busan screening. "I had a good memory of the friendly reception in Toronto, so I was confident about the Toronto Film Festival. The concern was the Busan Film Festival, so I watched it with Hong Kyung because I wanted to see the audience reaction one more time and I was satisfied because the reaction seemed good," Sul added.

"Good News" is scheduled to premiere on Netflix this Friday, bringing this darkly comedic reimagining of historical events to streaming audiences worldwide. The film represents director Byun Sung-hyun's attempt to bridge the gap between past and present, using the dramatic backdrop of a 1970s hijacking to explore themes that resonate with contemporary viewers through a blend of suspense and dark humor.