In what is looking to be another recent high profile reteaming effort, screenwriter Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) is in early talks to adapt a new take on Park Chan-wook's 2003 Korean film Old Boy, which is currently being developed by Will Smith and director Steven Spielberg. After meeting with several high-profile screenwriters around Hollywood, it's said that "Legend" star Smith invited Protosevich to meet with Spielberg on the project.
The trade cautions that this is still speculative since DreamWorks hasn't officially completed a deal with Mandate Pictures, who co-producted the original with Universal. This film would be DreamWorks' first acquisition since the recent departure from Paramount two months ago, though Mandate might retain some ownership role in the film.
Plot Concept: The original film, which like much edgy Asian cinema includes some disturbing material, detailed a man's mysterious kidnapping, 15-year imprisonment and feverish quest for revenge upon being released.
A slew of Asian remakes have found their way into American theaters and onto development slates in the past few years. Screenwriter William Monahan won the best adapted screenplay Oscar in 2007 for translating the Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs into the 2006 best picture winner The Departed, at Warner Bros. And Brad Ingelsby is adapting the 2000 Korean gangster movie Die Bad, which has Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster in negotiations to helm for Universal.
This movie is going to suck if Spielberg is involved. He will tone down the movie BIG time so it won't have a R rateing. This movie need a director like Guy Ritche. If Spielberg is involved I'm going to pass. Next you know Rob zombie is goign to do a remake of Audition with Paris Hiltoon as the lead.
How anyone can pass on Spielberg is beyond my comprehension.
Spielberg, Smith, Oldboy, oh my!
I can pass on this cause Spielberg is not the be all end all of directors. Also Spielberg will not keep the plot twist that makes this movie a classic. Also Will Smith dosen't do R rated films and this film need to be R rated. So until I see other wise I'm going to pass.
Don't believe the hype, Spielberg is not the end-all, be-all. He can't make edgy films. He makes popcorn movies, which Oldboy is not. And Smith has been destroying source material for years. Does anybody remember I, Robot and I Am Legend?
The problem with Smith is that he won't generate the same effect that the original had. The protagonist was a out of shape loser who, after being confined, turns into a bad ass. We already know that Will Smith can be a bad ass so the transition won't be as dramatic. It would be more effective to cast a Tom Hanks, who by no stretch of the imagination do we think bad ass, but who's acting chops could pull it off.
What do you mean Smith doesn't do R? Both Bad Boys films were R rated.
I don't think Speilberg can do a edgy film. Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List were great fims but not edgy like Oldboy has to be. Also Will Smith is not the right person for the role. If they want a black actor for it I would say Forest Whitaker or Don Cheadle both would be a better choice that Smith. But when I thinbk Oldboy directors I think Ritche, Tarantino or Cohen brothers. Not Spielberg.
Hmm......... I agreed with Hanso, but you have very good points Torvar.
But with spielberg, and smith, the potential is always limitless. And the writer for I AM LEGEND was awesome.
Christopher Nolan should do the American remake of Oldboy. 'Nuff said. And his brother writes the script.
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I wasn't a huge fan of Oldboy but if Spielberg is involved I'm down.