Spike Lee to direct remake of Park Chan-wook’s ‘Oldboy’
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Spike Lee has signed on to direct “Oldboy,” the English-language remake of Park Chan-wook’s hyper-stylized South Korean thriller.
A revenge tale about a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years and doesn’t know why, ‘Oldboy’ is based on a Japanese manga series. The original film became a critical hit, earning the grand jury prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and taking in just under $15 million at the box office worldwide.
Mark Protosevich, who wrote the genre movies ‘Thor’ and ‘I Am Legend,’ has adapted the screenplay for Mandate Pictures, with Lee coming aboard after multiple attempted reboots fell apart, including one with Steven Spielberg and Will Smith attached.
The ‘Oldboy’ gig is one of two Lee projects in the news this week. According to the website Blackfilm, Lee is directing another feature film called ‘Red Hook Summer,’ in which he’ll reprise the role of Mookie he played in his 1989 career breakout hit, ‘Do the Right Thing.’ Lee’s reps at CAA did not immediately return a call to confirm the project.
The director’s most recent work has been in the TV documentary space, on the post-Hurricane Katrina HBO miniseries ‘If God is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise,’ and the ESPN film ‘Kobe Doin’ Work.’ His last feature film was the 2008 World War II drama ‘Miracle at St. Anna.’
Lee appears eager to be back in the feature directing saddle. This morning he tweeted, “Wake Up. I been up since 430am. On the way to the set of THE NEW SPIKE LEE JOINT.Today is 1st Day of Shooting.Awwwwwwwwwwww Sheeeeeeeeeeeeet.”
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-- Rebecca Keegan
twitter.com/@thatrebecca
