Writer and director Park Chan-Wook is adapting his acclaimed 2003 South Korean film Oldboy into an English language television series.
Eminent director Park Chan-Wook is adapting his classic thriller Oldboy into an English language television series for Lionsgate. He will produce the series alongside his producing partner Syd Lim.
Chan-Wook said, in a statement published by Deadline, “Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television. I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling”.
Head of Scripted Development Scott Herbst said, “Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen. This series adaptation of Oldboy will feature the raw emotional power, iconic fight scenes and visceral style that made the film a classic”.
Indeed, there are few action scenes of the early 2000s as visceral as Oldboy’s hallway fight sequence. It comes about halfway into the film, as protagonist Oh Dae-su, played by Choi Min-sik, attempts to track down the person who held him captive for 15 years. Armed only with a hammer, he bludgeons his way through a corridor full of people in his way, Chan-Wook following the action in one long take.
Oldboy, which Chan-Wook co-wrote with Hwang Jo-yun and Lim Jun-hyung adapted from the Japanese manga by Nobuaki Minegishi, is often cited as one of the greatest films ever made, frequently appearing on critic and fan favourite lists.
It’s the second title in Chan-Wook’s Vengeance trilogy, following 2002’s Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and preceding 2005’s Sympathy For Lady Vengeance. It was also the first South Korean film to earn multiple accolades, including the Grand Prix, at Cannes in 2004.
An American remake, directed by Spike Lee, written by Mark Protosevich and starring Josh Brolin, was released in 2013.
No cast details about the TV series have been confirmed as yet, but we’ll keep you updated as we hear more.
