The Raid remake is moving forward at Netflix with director Patrick Hughes and producers Michael Bay and Gareth Evans. The Raid is the now-classic Indonesian action film from 2011 (often called The Raid: Redemption) that starred Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, and Yayan Ruhian and is known for its kinetic, violent, and fast-paced action with a focus on the Indonesian martial art style known as Pencak Silat. Gareth Evans directed the film and the sequel, The Raid II, which debuted in 2014 to similar acclaim. A third film was discussed but never moved forward.
Patrick Hughes is known primarily as an action director, having made his U.S. debut with The Expendables 3 before moving on to The Hitman's Bodyguard, as well as the sequel, Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Hughes is currently wrapping up The Man From Toronto with Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson. Bay is the prolific action director/producer of action films like Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon, and the first five films in the Transformers franchise. His latest directorial effort, Ambulance starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is set for release in April 2022.
Now comes word (via Deadline) that The Raid is getting a "reimagining" from Hughes, with Bay and Evans serving as producers on the project, which will debut on Netflix. The Raid remake has been in the works with various filmmakers and stars throughout the years, including one with Joe Carnahan at one point, but is now in the hands of Netflix with Bay and Evans in charge. The reimagining is said to take place in the U.S., specifically in "Philadelphia's drug-infested 'Badlands'" where "an elite undercover DEA task force climb a ladder of cartel informants to catch an elusive kingpin." It's a similar format to the original, with a new setting and agency at the forefront. Here's what the producers had to say about the new take:
We’re incredibly excited about Patrick’s unique vision for this film. It’s a distinctly original take on the material, which promises to pay great respect to the original film while also bringing a fresh approach and perspective that will set its own course in the action genre.
While Evans opted not to make a third entry in The Raid series with lead star Uwais, he has made a home out of Netflix already, which makes this deal sound all the more understandable. In 2018, Evans debuted his horror thriller Apostle, starring Dan Stevens on the streamer, and he's currently wrapping up another action thriller, Havoc, which stars Tom Hardy and Timothy Olyphant and will also debut on Netflix. Uwais, who played the lead in both The Raid films, has moved on to starring in U.S. films, including Mile 22, Snake Eyes, and as the villain in the upcoming The Expendables 4.
While many fans of the original The Raid films will lament a remake happening at all, having Evans onboard as an executive producer should help ease some concerns. With the original director behind the new concept and Bay's formidable producing prowess on deck to help steer it, the only real questionable addition to the project is Hughes, who seems to have a good pitch for the reimagining that sold Netflix, Bay, and Evans. Still, it lacks the strong action chops to merit his involvement. His U.S. films have been fine, but nothing to get excited about. Perhaps The Raid remake will be the signature entry he needs to make his mark, but thus far, he's the odd duck in this scenario.
Source: Deadline