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John Woo’s THE KILLER Getting A 3D Remake!

A remake of John Woo‘s Hong Kong action classic The Killer is now officially in the works. Ever since it’s release, Hollywood has been interested in a remake. The previous attempts have never really made it off the ground until now. 

This English language re-telling will be directed by John H. Lee from a script written by Josh Campbell.Jung Woo-Sung (Reign of AssassinsThe Good, The Bad, The Weird) will play the role originally played byChow Yun-Fat. No further casting announcements have been made yet, but they are expected soon.
The remake will be “set in present day, an elite Asian assassin risks everything to protect a beautiful singer that he unintentionally blinded, but can only do so with the help of an LAPD detective who is trying to catch him.”
The good news is that John Woo is involved as a producer on the project. Here is what Woo had to say:
“While all my films are special to me, THE KILLER is truly one of my favorites. We are thrilled to reinvent it as an English-language film and know it’s in capable hands by the incredible visual style and tender emotion John H. Lee brings to all his films.”
I am not sure how I feel yet about a remake of this film, especially without Chow Yun-Fat involved in some role.  It would be amazing to have him in a starring role of some sort in the remake. I don’t think that anyone can truly ever fill his shoes for that film. It will be cool to see how the special effects advances come into play for this film. If you have not seen the original film or Hard Boiled, I high recommend you watch them
Here’s the official press release:

Los Angeles, 31 January 2011: Essential Entertainment has joined Lion Rock Productions in its remake of THE KILLER in 3D, currently in pre-production, which will be directed by John H. Lee (A Moment to Remember, Saying Good-bye, Oneday) and written by Josh Campbell. Jung Woo-Sung (Reign of Assassins, The Good, The Bad, The Weird) will star in this English language re-telling of John Woo’s iconic action masterpiece, with additional cast to be announced shortly. The film will be produced by Woo (Face/Off, Mission: Impossible II) and Terence Chang under their Lion Rock Productions banner. Essential Entertainment will be handling worldwide sales.

Producer John Woo said: “While all my films are special to me, THE KILLER is truly one of my favorites. We are thrilled to reinvent it as an English-language film and know it’s in capable hands by the incredible visual style and tender emotion John H. Lee brings to all his films.”

John Fremes, President of Worldwide Distribution at Essential Entertainment said: “John Woo’s THE KILLER is one of the most influential and classic action films of all-time. The 3D version will no doubt appeal to fans of the original as well as capture a new generation of enthusiasts.”

Set in present day, an elite Asian assassin risks everything to protect a beautiful singer that he unintentionally blinded, but can only do so with the help of an LAPD detective who is trying to catch him.

THE KILLER in 3D was brought into Essential Entertainment by attorney Howard Frumes from Alexander, Nau, Lawrence, Frumes, & Labowitz, LLP.

Lion Rock Productions has also independently produced, in addition to its numerous studio films, RED CLIFF, the highest grossing film in China at the time of its release, as well as the upcoming martial arts swordplay drama REIGN OF ASSASSINS, released by The Weinstein Company.

In addition to THE KILLER in 3D, Essential Entertainment is handling the international sales on Barney’s Version, The Expatriate, A Good Old Fashioned Orgy,The Music Never Stopped, and Red Dog, which will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival— screening in competition as part of Generation 14plus.

Source: Deadline 

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Jim Napier

Jim Napier

Lover of movies and The Big Lebowski.