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Spike Lee Possibly in Talks to Direct the Oldboy Remake

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (11)

oldboy_25547.jpg

Spike Lee, who hasn’t made a feature film since The Miracle of St. Anna bombed, and who can’t even get a sequel to the Inside Man refinanced, is rumored to be in talks to direct a remake of Oldboy. The project formerly had Will Smith and Steven Spielberg attached; there’s no word on whether Smith is still involved (seems doubtful, given how preoccupied he is with ensuring his children take over mankind). Confirming a scoop we ran last November, the new script was written by Mark Protosevich. At the time, Matthew Vaughn and Danny Boyle were considered possibilities, but it’s apparently passed on to Lee, who is an intriguing and not terrible choice, if he can bring the same darkness he brought to the phenomenal 25th Hour.

Personally, I hope it’s just a rumor. I hope that a rumor about an Oldboy remake gets passed around every six months for decades because each time it does, a few new people check out the original, which will never be topped no matter who they get to star or direct. (Source: Twitchfilm)










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Comments

Step the fuck back and leave Old boy the fuck alone!

Posted by: peanut at July 6, 2011 9:20 AM

Why would they remake Old Boy? The original was as perfect as it could be. Oh wait I forgot this is Hollywood we're talking about here....

Posted by: Camytaru at July 6, 2011 9:47 AM

Yeah, what peanut said. I have a claw hammer and I'm prepared to use it.

Posted by: Ballymena Bob at July 6, 2011 9:51 AM

I agree with you Rowles, the original is untouchable. Maybe some young unknown director with nothing to lose will take it on, I just don’t see an established director putting his bacon on the line to remake this masterpiece.

Posted by: Pookie at July 6, 2011 9:52 AM

Old Boy should never be remade, because it was a terrible movie.

Just because it was violent and hard to watch doesn't make it at all good. I'm not surprised it was one of Tarantino's favorite movies.

Posted by: Jeff at July 6, 2011 10:39 AM

I understand the "need" for a re-make since there are clearly many movie-goers who cannot read, but why would there be a need for a new script (once it's translated obviously)?

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 6, 2011 10:39 AM

The original could stand to use some more non-contextually creepy sex scenes and boobs, PaddyDog. Gotta write that, can't just expect a extras to drop trou or doff their tops on set.

Since this is a good time to spread the word, the whole Old Boy pseudo trilogy is worth watching, and I would highly recommend Lady Vengeance even as a standalone. That's probably my personal favorite.

Posted by: RobP at July 6, 2011 10:59 AM

All the awesomeness of this movie will be lost in the translation.

Posted by: Pookie at July 6, 2011 11:00 AM

For the longest time all I pictured was Will Smith looking at the live octopus and going "AW HELL NAWWWWWWW" and winking at the audience.

Posted by: Mizghetti at July 6, 2011 12:10 PM

Wow and he hates people so much he might do it. Like the hate for this remake would just make him more likely to do it. Then blame the backlash and the what you assume to be horrible critical reception and lack luster box office on racism.

Posted by: googergieger at July 6, 2011 1:54 PM

Remaking Old Boy would be a disaster. It's such an amazing film and the only way to make it palatable for a mainstream audience would be to completely sanitize the elements of it that made it so shocking and fascinating in the first place. There's almost no chance the major twist in the film is going to be left in it. Even if it is, it will be completely watered down. Also, I don't believe they will leave the "happy" or "unhappy ending, depending on your opinion, in the remake. So, any American version would just become your standard revenge flick. And there are already more than enough of those. Leave Old Boy alone! It's perfect as it is.

Posted by: Gia at July 8, 2011 3:48 AM