In February 2011, we reported that Jaume Collet-Serra was attached to direct a remake of the classic 1970 Jean-Pierre Melville heist flick Le Cercle Rouge (The Red Circle).  Collet-Serra was the latest in long line of directors mentioned for the remake, and he followed John Woo, Johnny To, and John Hillcoat.  For those unfamiliar with the flick, here’s Criterion’s synopsis: “Alain Delon plays a master thief, fresh out of prison, who crosses paths with a notorious escapee (Gian Maria Volonté) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand). The unlikely trio plot a heist, against impossible odds, until a relentless inspector and their own pasts seal their fates.”  It’s an intense flick, but still retains the quiet coolness of Melville’s other work.

Word on the remake has been quiet since Collet-Serra was announced, and now it looks like he’s moved on, and 3:10 to Yuma director James Mangold has taken his place.  Hit the jump for more.

Jean-Pierre Melville is a director that has probably been loved more by directors and filmmakers than general audiences. John Woo swears by him. Quentin Tarantino adores him. Walter Hill was hip to him in the 1970’s, and made The Driver partly as an homage to Le Samourai. When I talked to Roger Deakins, he said that he constantly returned to the master. Le Cercle Rouge (“The Red Circle”) has been bouncing around for a while as something that may be possibly remade. But who could give the modulated cool of Alain Delon or Yves Montand? Unknown. But thank god Criterion put out the original on Blu-ray. Check out our review after the jump.

Jaume Collet-Serra is heating up as a director even though his latest film, Unknown, is a flaccid, unimaginative thriller (his previous film, Orphan, isn’t renown as a great piece of cinema either).  Last week we reported that he was attached to helm Harker, a re-imagining of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Now Deadline is reporting that he’s making a deal to direct Red Circle, a remake of the classic 1970 Jean-Pierre Melville heist flick Le Cercle Rouge.  This remake is made worse by the fact that Eastern Promises screenwriter Steven Knight is handling the script (Eastern Promises works because of Cronenberg and Mortensen and in spite of the weak screenplay).

Deadline reports that Collet-Serra’s popularity comes from delivering Unknown for $30 million and with international box office potential.  Red Circle will be set in Hong Kong, but Collet-Serra hasn’t settled yet on what his next project will be.  For those unfamiliar with Le Cercle Rouge, hit the jump for a synopsis.