Park Chan-Wook is developing his acclaimed film oldboy for the first time as an English-language series in association with Lionsgate Television.
Park, who directed and co-wrote the original film, will produce the series alongside his producing partner Syd Lim.
What Oldboy is about
The 2003 film is an adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name written by Garon Tsuchiya. Follow Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man taken off the streets and imprisoned for 15 years, who one day is released and has 5 days to find his captor.
Oldboy is the second title in Park’s Vengeance trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and before Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005). It won multiple accolades, including the Cannes Grand Prix in 2004, the first for a South Korean film. Spike Lee remade the film in 2013 with Josh Brolin playing the main character, Joe Doucett.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision of bringing Oldboy to the world of television,” Park said. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand represents bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation and we are excited to partner with him to bring his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” shared Scott Herbst, executive vice president and head of scripted development at Lionsgate Television. “This series adaptation of Oldboy will feature the raw emotional power, iconic fight scenes and visceral style that made the film a classic.”
Park is also known for directing The Handmaiden (2016), Decision to Leave (2022), which earned him the Best Director award at Cannes, stoker (2013) and Thirst (2009), in addition to producing the film and television series snowpiercer. Most recently, she produced and directed The Sympathizerstarring Robert Downey Jr., which is currently airing on HBO. Next, she has the period action thriller for Netflix, uprisingwhich will be released later this year.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
