It was announced recently that John H. Lee will direct the remake to John Woo’s 1989 action movie The Killer. The original starred Chow Yun Fat and was about a hitman who falls in love with the woman he blinded during a hit while evading the police. And in classic John Woo style it showcased stunts, doves, and gunplay. Lots of gunplay. Jung Woo Sung is scheduled to play Chow Yun Fat’s character. Now the only reason why I’M not losing my shit is because it’s one thing for it to be spoken in English (for all you ileterate Americans that can’t read subtitles) but it’s another if it’s made in America. With all the laws and red tape and contracts and unions you have to go through, the stunt work and ballet of constant gun work may be limited. Cause in China….they really didn’t give a @#$!. Oh yea, that and it’s in 3D. More after the jump.
First off, 3D is not needed for everything. Hopefully they won’t shoot scenes with the intention of scaring the beejeezus out of you or making you feel like you’re right there. I just hope that if they ever remake MY #2 movie Hard-Boiled (#1 is Die Hard), that they do it right with non stop action and making sure the actor actually is trained to do his own stunt work. Shit, I’LL be Inspector Tequila. Please…..no, really. Please, let me be Inspector Tequila. Here’s the announcement from John Woo who will be producing the movie.
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.
Here’s the trailer to the original movie:
Go Cyborg! 