Screen Rant » oldboy

Steven Spielberg & Will Smith ‘Oldboy’ Remake Dead!

Ross Miller — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:08:44 +0000

I think just about every fan of Park Chan-wook’s 2003 Korean masterpiece, Oldboy, can breathe a lot easier now and for the foreseeable future. Back in July we told you that an Oldboy remake (or new adaptation of the source comics) directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Will Smith was sadly back still in development. A complicated mess of legal turns meant that any original troubles that may have hindered the project had disappeared, and at that time it looked like we’d all have to face a world where an Oldboy remake existed.

Well, not anymore!

According to a “trusted source” at Latino Review (and these guys are usually pretty spot-on when it comes to this sort of stuff), Spielberg and Smith’s Oldboy remake is firmly dead… on the ground… with its tongue cut out (Oldboy fans, you know what I’m talking about). Word is that Mandate and Dreamworks (who both were in the process of securing the rights) couldn’t see eye-to-eye, and the big one, Dreamworks, has walked away from the project.

So no Dreamworks = no Spielberg on this one, and Latino Review reports Smith is out as well. And thus, at least for the time being, there’s no Oldboy remake in the works. I said it when the project worked its way back on track at the beginning of July (and I quote), “I, and just about every other Oldboy fan out there, can only hope another problem arises that hinders and hopefully even cancels this remake project altogether.” About as poignant a statement, especially now, than anything Martin Luther King Jr. or Gandhi said. Okay, maybe a BIT less poignant …

As /Film points out, this isn’t to say that we will NEVER see a U.S. remake (oops, sorry – new adaptation) of Oldboy – perhaps even sooner rather than later – as it may get taken somewhere else to get made. A smaller studio than Dreamworks may be a better fit for the project, as opposed to the powerhouse of Dreamworks and Spielberg. And, of course, there’s Smith, who I personally think is a bad choice for the lead role - not because I don’t think he’s suited for it, but his star status will draw away from everything else (I’d always be watching Smith and not his character). To further my sentiment from a few months ago – I hope this project stays dead this time.

Are you glad that (at least for now) the U.S. remake of Oldboy is dead? Are you glad Spielberg and Smith won’t be involved? Do you agree they should leave the original (both film and graphic novels) well alone?

This most likely won’t be the last piece of news/info to come out about this, so stay tuned to Screen Rant for developments.

Sources: Latino Review and /Film

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SR Pick [Video]: Milo Ventimiglia Reenacts ‘Oldboy’ Fight Scene

Ross Miller — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:02:34 +0000

One of the most popular Asian films of the last few years is Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy, the middle part of his Vengeance Trilogy (the first and third being Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance, respectively). I personally must have watched the movie at least 10 times, and it keeps getting better and better every time I watch it. A bona fide masterpiece IMO.

One of the most memorable scenes, not just of Oldboy itself but of any movie in the last decade, is the unbroken extended fight sequence in a dark hallway involving the main character and at least a dozen guys all attacking him at once. It’s an amazing, eyebrow raising sequence that’s unique to just about every other movie fight sequence I’ve seen.

On that note, our Screen Rant pick for today is of Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia reenacting (as part of the “Cinemash” series) that same Oldboy fight sequence. It replaces the gangsters from the real Korean movie with AIG executives who are about to use their golden parachutes to escape after stealing corporate bailout money for themselves.

The video is pretty silly for the most part, but for those of you who’ve seen Oldboy here’s a question: is it just me or would Ventimiglia be a pretty good choice for a remake new adaptation that Spielberg is trying to get made – if we simply have to have one, that is? Just a thought.

Anyway, enjoy:

The more explicit nature of the violence from the actual movie is really watered down for this reenactment, but nonetheless it’s entertaining. What do you think of it?

To check out the actual fight scene from Oldboy to compare with Ventimiglia’s reenactment, you can head over to MTV Movies Blog.

Source: MSN

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‘Oldboy’ Remake Status: Sadly Back On Track

Ross Miller — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:44:59 +0000

Here at Screen Rant we haven’t covered much of the American dreaded remake of the Korean masterpiece Oldboy, which has Steven Spielberg and Will Smith attached. But there’s be so much stuff going on behind-the-scenes with it that we thought you’d like to be updated on its status.

Word of Spielberg and Smith being attached (to direct and star, respectively) in a remake of Chan-wook Park’s Korean revenge flick first came about back in November of last year. At that time, Dreamworks was in the process of acquiring the rights and it looked like the unnecessary remake was fully on the way. But just recently the project hit a snag when legal troubles arose between Futabasha (the comic book company who published the original Oldboy manga) and Show East (the original Oldboy’s production company) over the fact that they negotiated a remake when they apparently didn’t have the right to do so (smells like the Watchmen lawsuit to me).

However, any sighs of relief from fans of the original Oldboy may have been premature as it appears the remake is back on track. Although it’s not 100% confirmed, it’s being reported (by Reuters) that Show East has gone bankrupt, and its CEO has gone missing. Big Egg (which co-produced the original movie) also closed-up shop and is unreachable. The rights were acquired by Mandate who later sold them to Dreamworks, and even though the company hasn’t commented on the legal troubles, they are now still going ahead with development of the project.

Complicated, eh?

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was annoyed at the news of an Oldboy remake when it was first announced. Even when it was revealed that it wouldn’t strictly be a remake of the 2003 Korean film per se, but rather of the original manga comic, it still didn’t take much of the sting out of the tail. And when the legal troubles arose it felt not too far away from divine intervention.

This news now means that us Oldboy fans have to face the reality that a remake (which effectively it is, semantics aside) is on the way. No doubt Spielberg and Smith’s version will be watered down, removing much of the shocking content that can be found in the original (including something of a certain social taboo variety that I’d be curious to see if Spielberg would keep as far as a plot point).

In case you can’t tell, I am a huge fan of the original Oldboy and naturally anyone trying to do another version has me annoyed. I, and just about every other Oldboy fan out there, can only hope another problem arises that hinders and hopefully even cancels this remake project altogether.

What do you think of an Oldboy remake? Are you glad it’s back on board after its legal troubles?

No release date has been set as of yet for the Oldboy remake.

Sources: The Playlist, FirstShowing, /Film, Reuters and Variety

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Mid-Week Movie News Wrap Up – Jan. 29, 2009

Niall Browne — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:45:17 +0000

It’s that time again – you know when you catch up on film news that you might have missed.

This week:

Neil Marshall is a Centurion; John Orloff helps create James Bond and Smith backs away from Oldboy.

1. Brit director Neil Marshall (Doomsday and Dog Soldiers) will direct Centurion, a sword and sandals epic set in Britain.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

“The movie, billed as a thriller set during the Roman invasion of Britain in A.D. 117, tells the story of Quintus Dias, sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, who marches north with General Virilus’ legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the Earth and destroy their leader, Gorlacon.”

300’s Michael Fassbender, The Wire’s Dominic West and Quantum of Solace’s Olga Kurylenko will star.

Sounds like it should be good.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

2. John Orloff the writer behind real life Angelina Jolie starrer A Mighty Heart will is going to be shaken not stirred when he writes Fleming. The film will chart the life and times of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Apian Way will produce the film for Warner Bros, with the star mulling over a starring role.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

3. It sounds like the Will Smith and Steven Spielberg version of Oldboy may be a long way away. At the very least. Speaking to MTV Smith said:

“We’re working from the comic and we haven’t done anything other than talk about it. So we’ll see what happens, but he’s not going to do anything that would be less than stunning.”

Sounds like the project isn’t going to be released anytime soon. I’m sure Smith and Spielberg have better things to do with their time than make a film that isn’t going to match up to the original Korean version.

Source: MTV

That’s it for now. See you at the movies.

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Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: November 30, 2008

Niall Browne — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:33:55 +0000

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. This weekend the news wrap up features:

What hit the top of the box office; Oldboy gets a scriptwriter; Genesis: Apes is real; there will be a New Moon in March and Hugh Jackman discusses the end of Wolverine.

Box Office

The box office was dominated by Four Christmases over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon film should bank about $46 million over the five day weekend. Ho Ho Ho!

Last week’s number one film – Twilight dropped one place this week, but should manage another $40 million over the five days.

Animated Disney effort Bolt should bark up another $35 million over the weekend, while Quantum of Solace should manage another $30 million over the five days.

Baz Lurhmann’s 3 hour epic Australia underperformed with a five day weekend take of just $20 million. The Hugh Jackman – Nicole Kidman film cost $140 million to produce, and it’ll need amazing word of mouth if it’s going to be profitable.

Transporter 3 starring Jason Statham should manage about $18 million over the five days ensuring that he will keep making modestly budgeted and modestly successful action pics.

Movie News

1. Mark Protosevich will write Steven Spielberg’s adaptation/remake of Oldboy.

Protosevich wrote the original script for Will Smith starrer I Am Legend (which is supposed to be fantastic) and an unmade Batman 5 called Batman Triumphant (back in the Schumacher days) that featured the Scarecrow.

Will this version of Oldboy be any good?

Who knows, but I am intrigued to see how it turns out.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

2. We told you before that an odd prequel/origin story to the original Planet of The Apes was in development at Fox titled Genesis: Apes, but that it might never see the light of day. However it now looks like things are moving along at a relatively nice pace.

Tom Rothman recently spoke about the film on the Fox Move Channel. The executive said this:

“We are very close at Fox on a new Apes script- this one a kind of prequel story before the first story, with a return to the social thematics that mark the first one, but with an entirely contemporary setting – Earth 2009.”

Source: CHUD

3. New Moon – the sequel to smash hit film Twilight is set to go before cameras this coming March.

Kristen Stewart has revealed that the film will shoot (partly) in Italy:

“A lot of the book takes place in Italy, and I think we’re going to get to go to Italy, which is so cool. For a while there, they were like, Oh, we don’t know if we have the money, but now I think we may have the money!”

A pay rise and a Holiday – it’s nice work if you can get it.

Source: Shock Til You Drop

4. Aussie superstar Hugh Jackman has recently discussed de-clawing Wolverine if the character’s solo feature underperforms at the box office.

Speaking to Moviehole; Jackman said:

”If it’s clear to us on May second or third that that’s gone, then I’ll walk away happily. I’m not going to flog something – or flog a dead horse, or try and make movies that people don’t really want to go and see. I have no interest in that. Even no matter how much I love the character. So there are many prerequisites”.

He also said that a return to the character would depend on the right script:

“There’s a few story lines that are running my head which I think would be really cool, but unless the script is right, then I just don’t see the point in doing it. I’m probably at the point in my career where I don’t need it. And the last thing I want to do is just to push it on people, if it doesn’t warrant a full feature movie.”

I’m sure a $20 million pay day might help too.

Source: Moviehole

That’s it for now. See you at the movies.

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Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: November 9, 2008

Niall Browne — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:49:29 +0000

It’s Sunday so that can only mean one thing – The Weekend Movie News Wrap Up!

This week:

John Landis robs with graves with Burke and Hare; Spielberg and Will Smith eye Oldboy; Tom Hanks doesn’t take The Road To Purgatory; we can expect another 30 Days of Night and Carpenter and Cage think that it’s a Riot that they are no longer Scared Straight. Also there is the usual Box Office break down.

Box Office

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ruled the weekend with an estimated $60 million, beating its predecessor which managed to make $47 million back in 2005. Man, family movies are making so much money these days (like when have they never?).

The runner-up spot goes to Role Models starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. The film was predicted to gross around $11 million over the weekend, but instead it should make somewhere between $17-19 million. Kevin Smith must be very angry! Speaking of Kevin Smith Zach and Miri Make A Porno banked another $6.5 million for a $20 million total.

Meanwhile the Zac Efron starring High School Musical 3: Senior Year managed to gross another $9 million bringing its total to $75 million. It looks like $100 million is definitely in range. Clint Eastwood’s Changeling should manage another $7-8 million, while Soul Men starring Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac tanked with a $6 million weekend. It looks like people are getting tired of seeing Jackson on the big screen. If the man likes working so much then I’m sure that there’s a TV series he could do.

Quantum of Solace now has a worldwide tally of $130 million after one week. The film is beating the opening of Casino Royale in most countries and although the reviews might not be as positive as Royale (except yours truly) the shorter running time should help the final gross be equal to if not better that film. Quantum of Solace opens in the US next weekend.

Movie News

1. Director John Landis will return to the big screen with Burke and Hare. The master of horror will direct the black comedy about the legendary grave robbers. The film should begin shooting this spring in Edinburgh, London and at Ealing Studios.

This material sounds perfect for Landis who helmed such goulish classics and An American Werewolf in London and …er… The Stupids.

Source: Variety

2. Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are “in early discussions” to direct and star in a remake of hit Korean film Oldboy.

According to Variety :

“In the 2003 Korean original, a man gets kidnapped and held in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. Suddenly, he’s released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.”

The original is a pretty cool little film, with a very un-hollywood ending so it’ll be interesting to see if the “Kings of Sentimentality and Commercialism” will make any changes.

Source: Variety

3. A sequel is in the works to the 2002 Tom Hanks film Road to Perdition. The film was based on a graphic novel by Max Allan Collins, and the story was continued in two sequel books; The Road to Paradise and The Road to Purgatory.

Collins will adapt and direct The Road to Purgatory, which according to Variety:

“will follow the character of Michael Sullivan Jr. — the son in “Perdition” — as he returns home from WWII and vows to avenge the murder of his father. He is ultimately led to Frank Nitti, whom he is urged to kill on the orders of Al Capone.”

The $20 million budgeted film will be independently produced as DreamWorks and Paramount passed on a sequel to the $100 million grossing film that also starred Paul Newman and Daniel Craig.

Hanks will not return.

Source: Variety

4. Another non superhero based comic book sequel is in the works. Vampire flick 30 Days of Night is getting a follow-up. The original starred Josh Hartnett as sheriff of an Alskan town which is descended upon by vampires.

Will Hartnett return? Maybe, the guy needs a hit.

Source: Shock Till You Drop

5. Back in August we told you about Scared Straight – the team-up of John Carpenter and Nicolas Cage. Well, the film has a new title, the less comical Riot and a new teaser poster.

Not a whole lot – but at least this film is moving ahead.

More when we get it.

Source: Coming Soon

That’s it for now. See you at he movies

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