Skip to main content

John Woo’s The Killer remake going forward

So what do you do when you are handed the rights to one of the most famous genre movies ever made? Do you restore it, perhaps even re-release it in the theaters? Maybe if it is a foreign film you could consider just re-recording the voice work for a new audience? Well, when it comes to Hollywood, a classic foreign film spells one thing: remake.

In an article that may prove painful to fans of the original, Deadline is reporting that the classic Hong Kong action film The Killer, the film that introduced millions of Western audiences to the Hong Kong action genre, helped make John Woo an international player, and introduced Western audiences to Chow Yun Fat, has slipped its final legal noose and is on the fast track to being remade.

The film has faced several attempts to remake it over the years, but legal issues, scheduling conflicts, and the odd run of bad luck prevented the film from ever getting off the ground. It appears that the issues have been resolved, and the movie is moving ahead. And it will be in 3D.

The film will star Korean actor Jung Woo-Sung (The Good, The Bad, The Weird, Reign of Assassins) who will take over the role that Chow Yun Fat made famous. The rest of the roles have yet to cast. The movie will be directed by John H. Lee, also known under the name Lee Jae-Han (A Moment to Remember, Saying Goodbye, Oneday), and Woo will remain on board as a producer. If you can look past the horror of remaking this film, it seems like they are going to treat it with a modicum of care and respect.  With Woo still attached, that could also give a glimmer of hope.

“While all my films are special to me, The Killer is truly one of my favorites.” Woo said. “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.”

According to the press release, the story will take place in present day Los Angeles. In following the original plot, an elite assassin forms a bond with a beautiful singer that he accidentally blinded on an earlier job. When things go badly for the assassin, to protect the singer, he relies on the help of an LAPD detective who wants to catch him.

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
The 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now
A woman stands in front of microphones with a man clapping behind her.

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, with nearly 250 million subscribers. And just what do those people tend to watch? In particular, what is the most popular movie on Netflix? Each week, the streaming service releases a list of its 10 most-watched movies over a recent seven-day period to keep subscribers in the loop regarding its most popular titles.

Lindsay Lohan's Irish Wish has won over the hearts of Netflix subscribers as it moved into the top spot, with Damsel falling to No. 2. One of the notable debuts this week is Shirley, a biopic about the groundbreaking politician Shirley Chisholm, played here by Oscar winner Regina King. Below, we've listed the top 10 movies in the U.S. from March 18 to March 24, along with general information about each film, such as genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

Read more
10 best R-rated movies streaming right now
A woman and her child stands next to a dead body in Anatomy of a Fall.

R-rated movies are typically expected by audiences to push the boundaries of what can be depicted on the big screen. Whether it's gory horror movies or steamy erotic thrillers, these movies were designed specifically to get an "R" rating and be shown primarily to adults.

From modern masterpieces like Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer to classics like Alien, some of the best R-rated movies ever made are available to stream on different platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Max. With bold narratives and unfiltered realism, these are great picks for an enjoyable movie night among adult friends.

Read more
Stop! Watch these Netflix movies before March 2024 ends
Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

One of the blessings of streaming services like Netflix is that, in addition to their libraries of original titles, they also have titles that come and go on a regular basis. While the introduction of new titles is always nice, the downside is that titles usually leave the service when new ones join.

As March turns into April, we're going to lose some genuinely great movies on Netflix. While you still have time, though, you should check these three very different movies out.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Original Theatrical Trailer

Read more