Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has announced a Korea-Japan co-production titled Nameless, based on award-winning Japanese sci-fi mystery novel Genome Hazard, written by Tsukasaki Shiro and published by Shogakukan Inc.

Korean director Kim Sung-soo [pictured], who debuted with Running Wild after working as an assistant director to Park Chan-wook and Song Hae-sung, is writing and directing the film.

Nameless is tentatively scheduled for a 2013 release. Korea’s Lotte Entertainment and Sovik Global Contents Investment Fund and Japan’s Happinet are backing the film with Lotte to handle worldwide distribution excluding Japan, which Happinet will handle. Happinet previously invested in Bong Joon-ho’s The Host.

The film will star Japanese actor Nishijima Hidetoshi, from films such as Sayonara Itsuka and Cut, with Korean actress Kim Hyo-jin from The Taste Of Money and Ashamed. Nameless will also feature Korean actor Lee Kyoung-young from Unbowed and Japanese actors Ibu Masato from The Woodman And The Rain and Hamada Manabu from My Way.

Lotte timed the announcement of the film to the opening day of Busan’s Asian Film Market today. On Saturday, Oct 6 in Busan, the company held a major festival party with Gangnam Style rap sensation Psy bringing down the house.