Nicolas Winding Refn has made a name for himself by directing very real and very brutal action films. After helming films like Pusher, Bronson, Valhalla Rising, and Drive, it looks as though the auteur filmmaker could be setting his sights on directing a prequel to the 1980s cult horror movie, Maniac Cop.

Now, Refn is only signed on to produce Maniac Cop, and the original writer and director of the film, Larry Cohen and William Lustig, are also signed on to produce as well. The two confirmed that the film will be a prequel in an interview with Daily Grindhouse, and also talked about Refn joining the producing team:

“It’s going to be more a prequel than anything else, I am really excited to come back to this world especially since Nick is going to be a part of it” said Cohen. “Nick (Winding Refn) has been talking to us about it for a while now and I had an idea that would work so we’re going to do it.” Cohen said that the film will still maintain the noir-ish comic book feel of the first three films but “with a bigger budget than the others have had.”

Lustig added that the project isn’t a 100% signed on, but that they were very close to sealing a deal.

The original Maniac Cop followed a hidiously psychotic police officer committing random heinous acts of murder. Tom Atkins (Drive Angry), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), Richard Roundtree (Shaft) starred in the original Maniac Cop, with Robert Z’Dar (Tango & Cash) playing as the titular character.

Though no director is formally signed on to direct the Maniac Cop prequel, Refn signing on to produce the film leads many to believe that he could also be directing as well. Refn directing Maniac Cop wouldn’t be the most surprising thing that I’ve seen, since the premise of the movie is certainly in the filmmaker’s wheelhouse.

However, Refn's schedule may prevent him taking the director's chair. He is currently directing Only God Forgives and will move on to direct the Logan’s Run remake. We’ll Keep you posted as soon as more news on the Maniac Cop prequel comes in.

Source: Daily Grindhouse (via Badass Digest)