Samuel L Jackson has signed onto the cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming English-language remake of Chan-wook Park‘s Oldboy. Interestingly, the LA Times is reporting that the role is somewhat smaller than what we have grown accustomed to seeing Jackson in, though it does play a pivitol part in the film.

Park’s film told the story of a man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and upon his equally mysterious release sets out to extract revenge on his jailers. Jackson is signed to play one of the jailers who meets a rather grisly fate at the hands of Josh Brolin, who has been signed to star as the imprisoned man.

It is a moment that is really not for the faint of heart. (Hint – If you’ve seen Marathon Man and got squeamish at a certain scene between Max Von Sydow and Dustin Hoffman, you’re really not going to like what happens in Park’s film.) The Times states that although the scene in Lee’s version will play out differently, but will still be “plenty painful.”

The film is scheduled to begin shooting this fall in Louisiana and New York.

Spike Lee is all set to start shooting his English-language remake of the Korean film Oldboy, he’s just waiting on studio Mandate Pictures to give him the go ahead.

Lee revealed that all he is waiting for is a green light for the project in a new interview with GQ stating, “You know they’re still trying to get the numbers straight, but I think it’s going to happen.”

The film is set to star Josh Brolin as a man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and then just as mysteriously released and who tries to find out who is captor was. Sharlto Copley and Elizabeth Olsen are also set to star. If you’ve seen the original film by Park Chan-Wook, you can probably guess the nature of their two roles, but I am not going to spoil it for those who haven’t seen it.

The original film, part of Park’s thematic “Vengeance Trilogy” has developed a following in the US, many of whom were upset over an English language remake and the possibility that Hollywood sensibilities would water down the film’s shocking ending. Producer Roy Lee addressed those fears about writer Mark Protosevich’s screenplay last November when he stated-

It’s very similar, but we’ve added new elements. Or, Mark Protosevich has come up with new elements to it that will throw off the audience who have seen the original movie because there are new characters and new situations that present themselves in a way that changes the story but eventually go in the same direction… The ending will be something that the audiences will all be…especially the fans of the original will be very happy with. In fact, some may consider it to be a bit darker.

Lee states that he hopes to have the film in production this fall.

A couple of weeks back we made mention of the fact that it appeared that Sharlto Copley had been offered the lead in the Spike Lee’s English-language remake of the Korean film Oldboy. The actor has since accepted the role and is now officially slated to appear in the film as Adrian Pryce, a man who orchestrates the fifteen-year-long imprisonment of Josh Brolin’s character Joe Douchett, leaving him to piece together the mystery as to why upon his release.

Previously, both Colin Firth and Clive Owen were offered the part but passed for various reasons. Elizabeth Olsen has been offered the lead female role of a social worker who tries to help Brolin’s character unravel the mystery of his imprisonment but there has been report if she has accepted the part.

The original film from director Park Chan-Wook has developed a following in the US, many of whom were upset over an English language remake and the possibility that Hollywood sensibilities would water down the film’s shocking ending. Producer Roy Lee addressed those fears about writer Mark Protosevich’s screenplay last November when he stated-

It’s very similar, but we’ve added new elements. Or, Mark Protosevich has come up with new elements to it that will throw off the audience who have seen the original movie because there are new characters and new situations that present themselves in a way that changes the story but eventually go in the same direction… The ending will be something that the audiences will all be…especially the fans of the original will be very happy with. In fact, some may consider it to be a bit darker.

The film is scheduled to get in front of cameras in late September.

Via Deadline.

Sharlto Copley has been offered the role of Spike Lee’s remake of the Korean thriller Oldboy, according to a report from Variety. If he accepts, the District 9 star will appear as a man who imprisons Josh Brolin for fifteen years and then releases him, leaving Brolin’s character to solve the mystery as to why.

Previously, both Colin Firth and Clive Owen were offered the part but passed for various reasons. Elizabeth Olsen has been offered the lead female role of a social worker who tries to help Brolin’s character unravel the mystery of his imprisonment but there has been report if she has accepted the part.

The original film from director Park Chan-Wook has developed a following in the US, many of whom were upset over an English language remake and the possibility that Hollywood sensibilities would water down the film’s shocking ending. Producer Roy Lee addressed those fears about writer Mark Protosevich’s screenplay last November when he stated-

It’s very similar, but we’ve added new elements. Or, Mark Protosevich has come up with new elements to it that will throw off the audience who have seen the original movie because there are new characters and new situations that present themselves in a way that changes the story but eventually go in the same direction… The ending will be something that the audiences will all be…especially the fans of the original will be very happy with. In fact, some may consider it to be a bit darker.

Elizabeth Olsen may be in the process of being offered the lead to Spike Lee’s upcoming English-language adaption of the Korean thriller Oldboy. Those of you who have seen Park Chan-wook original will know what this mean. Those who haven’t seen the original will have a surprise waiting for them when the film eventually hits theaters.

Twitch is reporting that the actress has been offered the role, but also noted that outside of securing Josh Brolin for the lead, Lee has been having a difficult time lining up the rest of the cast. Rooney Mara and Mia Wasikowska have both reportedly passed on the role previously.

Olsen first burst onto the scene last year at Sundance with her starring role in the indie dramas Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Silent House. This year she returned to the film festival with Red Lights. Even if she does go on to pass on the film, I doubt that we won’t be seeing more from the actress in the near future.

Alice In Wonderland star Mia Wasikowska has been offered the lead in Spike Lee’s English-language remake of Chan-wook Park’s Oldboy. She will be playing Marie, a young woman who Josh Brolin’s character will fall in love with following his release from a fifeteen-year-long mysterious imprisonment. Ironically, Wasikowska just wrapped work on Park’s first English-language film Stoker.

The part had been previously offered to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara, though she passed on the project.

Lee will be directing the film from a screenplay by Mark Protosevich, who has pulled inspiration from both Park’s film and the manga by Garon Tsuchiya and illustrated by Nobuaki Minegishi from which it was adapted. As we know, Lee has stated that the screenplay may even be “a bit darker” than the original film.

Oldboy begins production in March.

Via Twitch.

Colin Firth has passed on taking a lead role in the upcoming English language remake of Korean director Park Chan-wook’s revenge thriller Oldboy. Firth was up for the role of the man responsible for the mysterious 15-year imprisonment of the film’s protagonist who is set to be played by Josh Brolin.

Firth mentioned that he had been offered the role while he was out recently promoting Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and it sounded like he was interested in the job. There has been no word as to why he ultimately decided not to do the film.

Although I was strongly resistant to the idea of an American remake of this film, I have been slowly warming to it as more details have been revealed. Brolin makes for a good lead. Reportedly screenwriter Mark Protosevich’s script doesn’t water down the original but goes to an even darker place than the original Oldboy did. Perhaps it was that dark place that spooked Firth? Who knows, but if director Spike Lee is able to replace Firth with an actor of equal caliber, than I’m starting to suspect that we may have something to look forward to.

Via Twitch.

South Korean director Park Chan-Wook’s revenge thriller has Oldboy has earned it self a considerable fan base here inthe United States. And I think it would be fair to say that most of them are eying the English-language remake with a bit of suspicion. Perhaps some of that will be allayed when they hear what producer Roy Lee had to say in a recent interview with Collider.

Lee stated that the when the film goes into production in March, it will be with a new draft of the script written by Mark Protosevich. Based on both Park Chan-Wook’s film and the original manga that inspired it, the script will also contain a few new surprises.

It’s very similar, but we’ve added new elements. Or, Mark Protosevich has come up with new elements to it that will throw off the audience who have seen the original movie because there are new characters and new situations that present themselves in a way that changes the story but eventually go in the same direction… The ending will be something that the audiences will all be…especially the fans of the original will be very happy with. In fact, some may consider it to be a bit darker.

Ummm… darker? If you’ve seen the original film, you know that it ends on a pretty dark, and downright icky, note. The notion that they have found an even darker place to go than the ending of the film has my head-reeling.Ironically, I honestly thought the original’s ending was too dark and twisted for any Hollywood studio to go for, so for them to be going in the opposite direction as it were is really something to look forward to.

The Americanized Oldboy will be directed by Spike Lee and star Colin Firth and Josh Brolin.

Josh Brolin has been signed to star in director Spike Lee’s upcoming Oldboy. A remake of Korean director Park Chan-Wook‘s modern classic revenge tale, Brolin will star as a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and once freed, seeks revenge on those responsible.

Mark Protosevich has adapted the original film for this English-language remake, but it is unknown how much of the original story may have been changed. Hopefully he’ll be keeping the original’s third act twist as I really can’t wait to be sitting in a movie theater and watching people react to it.

Brolin has just wrapped his work on the seemingly eternally in production Men In Black III and will start on director Ruben Fleischer’s crime drama Gangster Squad next month. He’ll have a few months free between that and the start of Jason Reitman’s Labor Day with Kate Winslet in June which is presumably when Oldboy will shoot.

Well this is certainly better sounding than a remake starring Will Smith and being directed  by Steven Spielberg. That version got scotched due to a problem with securing the remake rights. But this version sounds much more interesting.

Via Deadline.

Spike Lee hasn’t directed a film since 2008′s Miracle At St. Anna, and it looks like he’s getting behind the camera with a vengeance with the announcement of two new projects.

First off is studio Mandate officially announcing what we knew last week – that Lee will be directing an English-language remake of Park Chan-Wook’s Korean revenge film Oldboy. Here’s their press release -

Mandate Pictures announced today that Spike Lee (Inside Man) will direct OLDBOY, a remake of the highly-acclaimed South Korean film. Mark Protosevich has adapted the screenplay and will co-produce. Roy Lee and Doug Davison (The Departed, The Grudge) will produce. The film is a Vertigo Entertainment/40 Acres & A Mule Production. Mandate President Nathan Kahane will executive produce.

“It’s a great honor to put this special project into the hands of such a gifted writer and iconic director,” said Kahane.

OLDBOY tells the story of a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned on his daughter’s birthday. For fifteen years, he is held captive, and, upon his release, must begin his journey to find the reason for his imprisonment. He soon finds out that his kidnapper has plans for him more tortuous than his solitary confinement. The original film, released in 2003, directed by Chan-wook Park won the Grand Prize Jury Award at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Before Lee can get to work on Oldboy, however, he’ll have to finish the film he started work on today.

Seeing as how this project seemed to have sprung up out of nowhere, there’s not a lot of information about it floating around. Blackfilm, however, is reporting that the film is entitled Red Hook Summer and that the actor will be reprising his character of pizza delivery man Mookie from his debut film Do The Right Thing. Blackfilm cites a source stating that the plot of the film “centers on a adult from Atlanta who comes and spends the summer in Red Hook section of Brooklyn, NY.”

OK, maybe it is not a straight up sequel to Do The Right Thing, but more a story set in the same cinematic universe, a la a majority of Kevin Smith’s films. Interestingly, Lee is also an Atlanta native who transplanted to Brooklyn as a young man, so there may be an element of autobiography in the film. We’ll see.