Oldboy

Start Date for Spike Lee’s OLDBOY Pushed Back; Clive Owen Unlikely to Play Villain

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 6th, 2012 at 1:12 pm

Men in Black 3 is why we can’t have nice things. Production on Spike Lee’s remake of Oldboy was gearing up to begin this spring, but now due to star Josh Brolin’s press commitments for the trouble-laden Men in Black 3, Variety’s Jeff Sneider reports that the start date has been pushed to late summer/early fall. But that’s not all, as Sneider quickly followed up with the bad news that Clive Owen is now unlikely to take on the villain role in the pic. Details on why Owen may pass aren’t given, but it’s possible that the production move caused scheduling difficulties (though creative differences/monetary disputes could also be the culprit).

Owen makes the third such actor (that we know of) to turn down a part in the pic, as Colin Firth and Christian Bale both declined the villain role and Rooney Mara turned down the female lead. Last we heard, an offer was out to Mia Wasikowska for the female role, but news on that front has been quiet. I’m still eagerly anticipating Lee’s take on the story, but the casting troubles do give me pause. Hopefully the director is able to round the cast out with some fine actors sooner rather than later.

Clive Owen Offered Villain Role in Spike Lee’s OLDBOY Remake [UPDATED: Mia Wasikowska Offered Female Lead]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 16th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

Director Spike Lee is gearing up to start production on his remake of Oldboy here pretty soon, and he continues to zero in on his cast. Josh Brolin is set to play the protagonist, a man who is inexplicably imprisoned for 15 years, only to be set free and sent on a hunt to track down those responsible for his abduction and imprisonment. Colin Firth was first approached to take on the villain role, and confirmed as much a few weeks ago, but he’s since passed on the role. Now Twitch reports that Lee has offered the part to Clive Owen.

While I was really hoping to see Firth in the role, Owen isn’t a bad substitute. He’s got the sophistication thing down, and it’ll be interesting to see him square off against Brolin. Owen and Lee have a bit of history together, as Owen starred in Lee’s underrated thriller Inside Man, so their relationship probably bodes well for the chances of Owen accepting the offer. Now to see whom Lee chooses as his female lead. [Update: Well that was fast; Mia Wasikowska (The Kids Are All Right) has apparently been offered the female lead. Hit the jump for more.]

Producer Roy Lee Talks THE RING, POLTERGEIST, and THE GRUDGE Reboots, A Darker Ending for Spike Lee’s OLDBOY Remake, and More

by Hunter Daniels    Posted: November 28th, 2011 at 6:00 am

While on the set of Takashi Shimizu’s upcoming 7500, I got to sit down with a few other journalists and producer Roy Lee, who almost single-handedly spearheaded the J-Horror craze of the early 00’s, producing remakes of over a dozen foreign language horror films including, The Ring and The Grudge, as well as Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning, The Departed.

We’ll have full coverage of the new, original, aviation-based horror film closer to the release date, but today we have a slew of updates on Lee’s very busy development slate. During the interview, Lee talked about rebooting The Ring and The Grudge, a new ending for Spike Lee‘s English-language Oldboy remake that he promises will be darker than the original, directors he wants to work with, spoofs of his own films, getting beaten to the punch by The Hunger Games, his excitement for remaking Poltergeist, the current state of Japanese horror and more.

Colin Firth Confirms OLDBOY Rumors; Talks About Working with Coen Brothers Dialogue in GAMBIT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 22nd, 2011 at 12:52 pm

While many were skeptical about an English-language remake of Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy when it was announced, things got interesting when Spike Lee signed on to direct. Then the director locked Josh Brolin as his star and many fans’ fears (mine included) were abased. The next question was who Lee would choose to play the incredibly nasty villain, as the crux of the movie hinges on the dichotomy between the protagonist and the antagonist. Rumors began to surface that Colin Firth, an odd yet exciting choice, had been offered the role.

There reports were unconfirmed at the time, but Steve recently sat down with Firth to talk about the upcoming spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and he confirmed that he’s been approached about the role but no decisions have been made just yet. In addition, the actor talked about his recently wrapped remake of the 1966 caper comedy Gambit. The film also stars Cameron Diaz and Stanely Tucci, and was written by Joel and Ethan Coen. Hit the jump to check out the interview.

Colin Firth Offered Villain Role in Spike Lee’s OLDBOY Remake?

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 11th, 2011 at 2:10 pm

While no one was especially enthused with the idea of an American Oldboy remake, simply because director Park Chan-wook’s original is so fantastic, things got intriguing once Spike Lee signed on to direct. Then he cast Josh Brolin as the lead, and I have to say I was pretty onboard with this new version at that point. Now Lee may be adding even more prestige to the pic as Twitch is reporting that Academy Award-winner Colin Firth has been offered the villainous role of Adrian. For those unfamiliar, the story centers on a man who is abducted and imprisoned for 15 years, after which he’s inexplicably released and sent on a hunt to track down those responsible for his imprisonment. Chan-wook’s original is a hard-boiled revenge tale that culminates in a shocking/mind-blowing conclusion.

I’m wholeheartedly onboard with Firth as the villain, if only because a Brolin-Firth showdown sounds incredibly exciting. His casting may not be a done-deal though, as Variety’s Jeff Sneider tweeted that the deal is old news and Firth has passed. Hopefully we find out for sure soon. Rooney Mara was offered the female lead, but she subsequently (and sadly) turned it down, so Lee is also looking to fill that role.

Rooney Mara Rumored for Role in OLDBOY Remake

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: September 28th, 2011 at 8:27 pm

Okay, I know you weren’t on board with an Oldboy remake of any form in the beginning.  But you have to admit, you were intrigued when Spike Lee signed on to direct.  And as one of the finest leading men in the business, Josh Brolin was a great get.  And he might be facing off against Christian Bale.  Okay, this could be pretty cool.  There’s still one more key role to cast, though: the female lead.  According to Twitch, Mandate wants Rooney Mara for the female lead, renamed Marie in the remake.  Terrific choice!

It’s way too early to celebrate.  First, there is no formal offer on the table.  Although, the last time we received a story like this from Twitch, they linked Brolin to Oldboy.  And second, I should really wait to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before I coronate Mara.  But I bought 500 shares in Rooney Mara stock right after I walked out of The Social Network.  I’m in on Mara.

To be clear, Brolin is the only confirmed piece.  The hypothetical billing of Brolin, Bale, and Mara under Lee’s direction is just so tempting.  Read the synopsis for the Korean original after the jump.

Josh Brolin to Star in Spike Lee’s OLDBOY Remake

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 29th, 2011 at 12:35 pm

We previously reported that Josh Brolin was the top choice to play the lead in Spike Lee’s remake of Park Chan-Wook’s 2003 Korean revenge flick, Oldboy.  Now Deadline is reporting that he’s got the job.  For those unfamiliar with the original, the story centers on a man who is abducted and imprisoned for 15 years with no idea why or by whom.  When he is suddenly released for seemingly no reason, he goes on a hunt to track down and kill those responsible for his imprisonment.  The original is a thoughtful, thrilling, and a fresh take on the revenge genre and I’m excited to see how Lee is going to handle the American version.  Getting Josh Brolin on board ain’t a bad start.

Deadline reports that Brolin just wrapped on Men in Black III and that he’s moving on to Ruben Fleischer’s Gangster Squad.  The plan is to then shoot Oldboy before moving on to co-star with Kate Winslet in Jason Reitman’s Labor Day, which starts rolling in June.

Christian Bale Circling Roles in Spike Lee’s OLDBOY, Darren Aronofsky’s NOAH, Clint Eastwood’s A STAR IS BORN, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 24th, 2011 at 12:05 pm

Coming off an Oscar win for The Fighter and currently shooting one of the biggest films of 2012, Christian Bale has a wide variety of projects to choose from as his follow-up to The Dark Knight Rises.  His third (and supposedly final) Batman film wraps shooting this fall and he’s eyeing various high-profile projects as his follow up.  Variety reports that he’s considering Clint Eastwood’s remake of A Star Is Born starring Beyonce Knowles, Michael Mann’s Gold, the villain role in Spike Lee’s remake of Oldboy, Scott Cooper’s Out of the Furnace, and Darren Aronofsky’s Noah.  Bale was supposedly set for Zack Snyder’s The Last Photograph but he is no longer involved with that project.  Variety also doesn’t mention the untitled Terrence Malick film Bale reportedly signed on to last week.

According to Variety, Bale won’t make his decision until The Dark Knight Rises wraps shooting in November nor is he necessarily the front-runner for any of these movies.  It’s also worth noting that all these roles play to Bale’s dramatic side even though he gave audiences a glimpse at his ability to go beyond grim-and-gritty in The Fighter, and it’s easier to get excited about him signing onto a film after that great performance.

New Details on Spike Lee’s OLDBOY Remake; Josh Brolin Top Choice to Play Lead Role

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 12th, 2011 at 2:03 pm

It looks like the remake of Chan-wook Park’s Oldboy has finally caught fire.  Yesterday, we reported that Spike Lee would direct the film and today we’ve learned some new details regarding the remake.  Twitch, who first broke the story about Lee’s involvment, reports that Mark Protosevich’s screenplay borrows not only from the original South Korean film but also from the manga that inspired it.  Furthermore, the screenplay is said to be similar to how The Departed adapted Infernal Affairs.  Protosevich’s script reportedly borrows some elements from the pre-existing works, jettisons others, and introduces new material.  The new material makes up about 20% of the remake’s screenplay.

Hit the jump for more details and Mandate’s top choice to play the revenge-driven protagonist.

Spike Lee Confirmed to Direct OLDBOY Remake

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 11th, 2011 at 11:52 am

Looks like everything is coming up Spike Lee.  On the heels of the news that he was underway on shooting the indie feature Red Hook Summer, Mandate has sent out a press release confirming that he’ll direct the remake of Chan-wook Park’s South Korean revenge thriller Oldboy.  Lee will direct from a screenplay by I Am Legend screenwriter Mark Protosevich.  For those unfamiliar with the original film, it’s about a man who is held captive for 15 years even though he doesn’t understand the reason for his capture or unexpected release.

While I’m baffled by what a remake could bring the table when the original film is so incredible, at least Mandate has gotten a real filmmaker like Lee on board and I’m at least interested to see his take on the material.  Hit the jump for the press release.

Spike Lee in Talks to Direct OLDBOY Remake?

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 6th, 2011 at 7:05 am

Much like its protagonist Oh Daesu, the remake of Chan-wook Park’s Oldboy is very hard to kill (provided the opponent is a thug in a long corridor).  Last November, we reported that Mandate Pictures was still interested in the remake and loved the script by Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) turned in.  The studio was looking at Steven Spielberg, Matthew Vaughn, and Danny Boyle to take the director’s chair, but now a new name has gone on the list.  Twitch reports that Spike Lee is in talks to direct the film.  While I think an American remake of Oldboy is a bad idea, it could still be a hit and if it gives Lee the boost he needs to make more personal films, then so be it.

Back in 2009, Will Smith was reportedly interested in the lead role, but now that’s a laugh.  Quentin Tarantino wrote Smith a raw, challenging role for Django Unchained and Smith passed (Jamie Foxx will play the role instead).  It’s unlikely he would play the lead in a dark revenge thriller.  On the other hand, frequent Lee collaborator Denzel Washington would be a great choice.

OLDBOY Remake Lives? Studio Reportedly Likes New Script; Considering Steven Spielberg, Matthew Vaughn, or Danny Boyle to Direct

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 8th, 2010 at 1:37 pm

In November 2009, we reported the joyous news that a Steven Spielberg/Will Smith remake of Chan-wook Park’s Oldboy was dead.  Of course, Hollywood being Hollywood, nothing is ever truly “dead”.  According to Pajiba, screenwriter Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) has turned in a draft of the script that Mandate Pictures loves.  The studio is now looking to get Spielberg back on board.  However, that seems like a long shot since the director has already settled on Robopocalypse as his follow up to the drama War Horse.  Mandate is also considering Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn.  If Vaughn passes, they’ll take it to Danny Boyle.  It’s weird to think of Boyle as anyone’s third choice, but I think he would be the most interesting of the three to helm a remake (or rather, a “re-adaptation” since Oldboy is based on a manga).

Of course, this is just a studio wish list and while an Oldboy remake may not be dead, it’s still a long a ways off from making it to the big screen.  If you haven’t seen Oldboy, fix that part of your life.  I’ve included a synopsis for the film after the jump.

Steven Spielberg Looks to Make Beautiful Music with Zachary Quinto in a George Gershwin Biopic

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 31st, 2010 at 8:16 pm

You may currently know him best as either Spock or Sylar, but soon another iconic name may be associated with Heroes and Star Trek star Zachary Quinto: Gershwin.  Deadline reports that after Steven Spielberg dropped out of the proposed remake of imaginary rabbit pic Harvey, he became interested in directing a biopic on George Gershwin, famous American composer and brother of Ira.  The Spielberg-founded DreamWorks acquired the project last fall, and it is looking to start shooting as early as April.

For more on Spielberg’s next move plus details on Quinto’s involvement, hit the break.

Warner Brothers Acquires Remake Rights to Park Chan-wook’s SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE

by Matt Currie    Posted: January 6th, 2010 at 9:15 pm

As reported by Screen Daily, Warner Brothers has picked up the remake rights to South Korean director Park Chan-wook’s Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. Various folks from Bonaventura Pictures, CJ Entertainment, and Room 101 will produce, while Brian Tucker has been tapped to write the script. The original film is the first in Chan-wook’s fanboy-adored Vengeance Trilogy. For the uninitiated, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a noirish, violent, and ultra-graphic crime thriller that follows two men as they become ensnared on opposing ends of a grueling series of desperate acts and unfortunate twists of fate that ultimately results in both characters sinking to the darkest of depths in intersecting quests for…you guessed it…vengeance. It was released in 2002 to disappointing box office results in both South Korea and North America but managed to pick up a cult following.

Hit the jump for why film geeks around the world likely just felt a great disturbance in the force.

Matt’s Top 20 Films of the 2000s

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 31st, 2009 at 7:14 pm

I’ve really enjoyed the lists I’ve posted this week and I hope you have too.  I keep notes year-round on everything I feel is worth noting about particular movies so I don’t forget and I can compile it into what (hopefully) makes or an informative read.  However, this list I’ve been dreading.  Unlike the other lists, there’s no real recommendation at work here.  It’s a list designed to highlight mostly beloved and established films.  It’s also difficult to factor in films of 2008 and 2009 because I don’t know their staying power.  Finally, it’s a list that will ultimately please no one because there’s no way I can narrow the hundreds of great films that have come out over the last ten years into twenty that I’ve determined are better than all the rest.  So why am I doing it?  I have my reasons.  They’re not very good ones, but I have them.

The decade is ending, these films left an impact on me, and so I’ll call them out for their greatness and accept that there were plenty of other movies that could have filled in just as easily.

Hit the jump to start the countdown.

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