James Wan to Direct English-Language Remake of Korean Thriller ‘The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil’
James Wan, the director behind horror franchises like Saw and The Conjuring, as well as action blockbusters like Furious 7 and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is set to direct an English-language reimagining of the 2019 South Korean crime thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil. The project is being developed for Paramount Pictures [The Hollywood Reporter].
Don Lee to Reprise His Role
Notably, Don Lee (also known as Ma Dong-seok), who starred in the original Korean film, is attached to reprise his role in the remake [Yahoo Entertainment]. The original film featured Lee as a gangster who forms an unlikely alliance with a police officer to track down a ruthless serial killer.
Storyline and Original Film Success
The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil centers on a precarious partnership between a police officer and a crime boss, both with their own motivations for capturing a serial killer. The narrative is filled with double-crosses and intense action sequences as the two navigate a complex web of criminal and police activity [The Hollywood Reporter]. The original film premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and was a box office success in South Korea, grossing $24.8 million and reaching number one in its opening weekend [Yahoo Entertainment]. It currently holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise directed towards the cast and director Lee Won-tae.
Creative Team and Production
Shay Hatten, known for his function on the John Wick franchise and Rebel Moon, is writing the screenplay, based on a previous draft by Brian Helgeland [Yahoo Entertainment]. Wan will produce the film through his Atomic Monster banner, alongside Michael Clear. Additional producers include Lee via Big Punch Global, Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller via Balboa Productions, Chris Lee of B&C Group, and Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment [The Hollywood Reporter].
Wan’s Return to Directing
This project marks Wan’s return to the director’s chair after 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom [JoBlo]. He has remained active as a producer through his Atomic Monster production company, and is also involved in the reboot of the Saw franchise [JoBlo].