Lionsgate Television is preparing a new take on Oldboy. The 2003 original was directed by Park Chan-wook, having later been remade by Spike Lee in 2013 as an English-language remake. Now Oldboy is set to be reimagined, this time with Park Chan-wook working with Lionsgate to make it happen as a television series.
As shared by Lionsgate, this news “comes as Park’s The Sympathizer just debuted on HBO.” It seems like Park Chan-wook has a newfound appreciation for the television format, and now he wants to bring Oldboy to TV. He directed and co-wrote the original South Korean Oldboy film, and he will produce the new series along with producing partner Syd Lim.
He shared the following statement:
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
An additional statement was shared by Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development, Lionsgate Television:
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” said Herbst. “This series adaptation of Oldboy will feature the raw emotional power, iconic fight scenes and visceral style that made the film a classic.”
A brief summary of the original film, based on a Japanese manga of the same name, notes that “a man who is released from prison after 15 years,” now finds “that he must find his captor in five days.”
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the upcoming Oldboy television series as we have them. Though reactions to the 2013 iteration have been mixed, the original 2003 film truly is a classic, and it’ll be exciting to see how fans react to a television adaptation. Especially with Park Chan-wook involved.