According to reports, South Korean director Park Chan-wook is teaming up with Hollywood's Lionsgate to cook up an English TV series version of "Oldboy", and this news has got movie buffs worldwide (especially me) buzzing.
For years, "Oldboy"(2003) still holds its place as a classic in South Korean cinema and sits pretty in IMDb's Top 100 Korean Films.
We all might know that "Oldboy" as part of Park Chan-wook's "Vengeance Trilogy", sandwiched between "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance"(2002) and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance"(2005), but here's the kicker: not many realize it's actually based on the Japanese manga "Old Boy". While the manga's all about revenge, Park Chan-wook spiced things up by tweaking the villain's motives and throwing in some heavy incest vibes, giving the film a deep tragic twist that surpassed the source material, earning it a Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix back in 2004.
Interestingly, Hollywood already took a stab at remaking "Oldboy" in 2013, with Spike Lee directing and Josh Brolin starring, which unfortunately turned out to be a disappointment for both negative reviews and poor box office performance. It kinda dumbed down the original's intricate narrative into something more straightforward, and as a result, caused the film to lose its original charm.
Who would have thought that after all this time, Hollywood's still got "Oldboy" on its thoughts and wants to take another crack at it? It's a mixed bag, really. On one hand, Hollywood seems to be stuck in remake mode, churning out less original stuff by the minute (if you count the endless superhero flicks as innovation, then I've got no words). But on the bright side, they're handing the reins of this remake back to Park Chan-wook himself, the original director of "Oldboy", who will take on the roles of director and co-writer.
As a die-hard fan of Park Chan-wook, I am confident in his talent and creativity. Park didn't come from a traditional film school background; he graduated from the Philosophy Department of Sogang University in South Korea and used to be a film critic, for which he has viewed an extensive number of works. He is also a fan of B-movies and cult films, which further enriches his unconventional filmmaking style. Park's got a knack for controlling the pace of a film and bringing out raw emotions, and he's not afraid to push boundaries with violence and tension.
For Park Chan-wook, "Oldboy" will be his second English TV series project following "The Sympathizer"(2024). Starring Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr., "The Sympathizer" premiered its first episode on HBO Max on April 14, receiving favorable reviews from the media. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the series tells the story of a North Vietnamese spy who inadvertently ends up living in America and continues to faithfully carry out his mission in the Vietnamese refugee community in Los Angeles.
"The Sympathizer" consists of seven episodes, with Park Chan-wook involved in scripting all of them but directing only the first three episodes. The subsequent four episodes are helmed by Fernando Meirelles, known for directing "City of God", and Marc Munden, who has directed series like "Utopia". Some reviewers who have already watched all seven episodes believe that this arrangement could be a crucial factor affecting the overall completion of "The Sympathizer".
Indeed, during an online interview with American media, Park Chan-wook expressed his desire to personally direct all seven episodes, but considering his current stamina, it's impossible for him to do so. His previous British series, "The Little Drummer Girl"(2018), which he wrote and directed all six episodes, makes him realize that was his limit.
This feeling of being spread thin also casts a shadow over the "Oldboy" series. While I trust Park's skills, what about his health condition? And how's he going to handle the dark themes from the original? I mean, the original was already intense; will the new series bring anything fresh to the table?
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