Director Justin Lin (FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT) was long attached to a remake of Korean director Park Chan-Wook's deservedly acclaimed OLDBOY, but either wasn't up to the challenge or simply decided it wasn't a good idea.
Steven Spielberg doesn't feel the same. Nor, it seems, does Will Smith.
The duo has apparently wanted to collaborate on something, and are now in early discussions to make that something a remake of OLDBOY (with Universal and the recently liberated Dreamworks), a dizzying and brutal revenge tale about a man seeking payback when he's released from a mysterious 15-year captivity.
Spielberg obviously knows how to get serious and grim (MUNICH, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, SCHINDLER'S LIST), and Smith can certainly act, but he can also end up in flash trash (oh how I loathed you, HANCOCK). So he'll definitely need to bring his A-game for the role of the hammer-wielding prisoner portrayed so consummately by Korean star Choi Min-sik.
Extra Tidbit:
Nic Cage once publicly stated interest in the role, though I always thought Gary Oldman would be a fine choice if a remake has to be made. Which, of course, it doesn't. Does it?
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10:05AM on 11/10/2008
don't forget the bollywood version that came out a while ago.
don't forget the bollywood version that came out a while ago.