Oldboy Remake to be Based More on Japanese Manga, Less on Park’s Movie

by WangKon936 on November 25, 2008

Evidently, Will Smith was interviewed recently and regarding the Oldboy remake, was quoted as saying:

We’re looking at that right now. Not the film though, it’s the original source material. There’s the original comics of ‘Oldboy’ that they made the first film from. And that’s what we’re working from, not an adaptation of the film…

Apparently, my gut feeling on the matter may turn out right. The original Japanese manga’s plot isn’t centered around Park’s shocking and incestuous ending, thus easier for a more mainstream American audience to swallow.

In other remake news, a director who previously only had commerical experience (Nike, Adidas, Levi’s, etc.) may also direct a remake of The Host.

Oh, the horror…

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

1 SomeguyinKorea November 25, 2008 at 11:07 am: …that or Park simply refused to sell the rights to his adaptation.
2 Granfalloon November 25, 2008 at 11:17 am: I was willing to grant Scorsese a pass on “The Departed,” simply because Scorsese himself is possibly the most ripped-off director in film history, and as such has earned some leeway.

But unless Spielberg can pull out something truly cool and original, I may have to side with The Korean and declare Hollywood intellectual pirates.
3 Jewook November 25, 2008 at 1:03 pm: If they do a remake of The Host, I hope they keep it purely a monster movie. And not some “the US is bad” political movie shit. I think we probably pump a much more massive amount of chemicals into the Han river than any US Army base here.
4 The Goat November 25, 2008 at 2:57 pm: Pirates for pirating a pirated plot? Interesting!
5 Granfalloon November 25, 2008 at 3:42 pm: Ummm. . .what was “Infernal Affairs” pirated from?

Unless of course you’re referring to “Oldboy.” Maybe I should clarify. I would only consider Spielberg a pirate if his “Oldboy” didn’t creatively add to the work it’s based on. It must be cool and original, like Park Chan Wook’s was. I guess I should have said that in my first post.

Oh, gosh, I did.
6 MrMao November 25, 2008 at 11:38 pm: Man, this is a big day for incestual rape in Korea!
7 WangKon936 November 26, 2008 at 5:23 am: Mao,

I don’t think you read the posting in its entirety…

The absense of incest is probably why Smith and Spielberg want to lean on the manga more…
8 The Goat November 26, 2008 at 9:49 pm: Maybe I should clarify – I don’t give a shit about the remake or the overrated (but entertaining) original.