Paramount Pictures are set to remake the critically acclaimed South Korean crime thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil. Original star Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee, Eternals, Train to Busan) is due to reprise his lead role as a gang boss looking for redemption, reports Deadline.
The original Korean language film, directed by Lee Won-tae, centred on gang boss Jang Dong-su (Ma), who barely survives a hit by an unknown serial killer. With his fearsome reputation now damaged, Jang’s only hope of restoring his status is to get revenge on his attacker. To that end, he enlists the help of a local detective to help him find the killer known as “K”.
While outlets report that Paramount’s move comes in the wake of Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite and other successful titles since, it doesn’t quite answer the question of why audiences wouldn’t seek out the original Korean film over a remake. Particularly when one considers that the Korean-language series Squid Game still tops Netflix’s most-streamed shows, surely audiences have demonstrated that subtitles aren’t the big hurdle studios seem to believe they are.
Regardless, Ma’s involvement in the upcoming remake of The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is promising. Further details on the film, such as a cast, crew, or a release date, are expected to be released in the coming months.