Park Chan-Wook, Lionsgate TV To Adapt Oldboy As English-Language Series

Park Chan-Wook’s acclaimed thriller Oldboy is getting an English-language series from Park himself and Lionsgate TV. Deadline reports that Park, who co-wrote and directed the original film, is partnering with Lionsgate TV for a TV series Park will produce the series alongside his producing partner Syd Lim.

The original film released in 2003 and was an adaptation of the Japanese manga by the same name from Garon Tsuchiya. It follows a man (Choi Min-sik) who is abducted and held for 15 years in imprisonment before he is released and given five days to find his captor. The film is the second title on Park’s “Vengeance trilogy” along with 2002’s following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and 2005’s Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. The film was a massive hit with critics and fans and grossed $17.1 million worldwide against a $3 million budget.

“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park in a statement. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”

“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” added Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development, Lionsgate Television. “This series adaptation of Oldboy will feature the raw emotional power, iconic fight scenes and visceral style that made the film a classic.”

The film was previously remade by Spike Lee for English audiences in 2013, but the remake flopped both at the box office and with critics.