James Wan has signed on to direct and produce an English-language remake of the South Korean action thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil for Paramount Pictures.
The move marks a potential return to the director’s chair for Wan, whose last feature film was 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. While he has remained active as a producer through his Blumhouse-Atomic Monster banner, this project signals a shift back toward gritty, high-stakes action.
The original film, which debuted to positive reviews at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, follows an unlikely alliance between a powerful crime boss and a determined police officer. The two men are forced to work together to track down a cold-blooded serial killer who has been terrorising the city.
In a significant win for fans of the original, South Korean star Don Lee—also known as Ma Dong-seok—is attached to reprise his role as the formidable gangster. Lee has become a familiar face to international audiences following his roles in Train to Busan and Marvel’s Eternals.
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The script is being penned by Shay Hatten, whose previous credits include the John Wick franchise. Hatten is working from an earlier draft by Brian Helgeland, the Academy Award-winning writer behind L.A. Confidential.
The production features a heavy-hitting roster of producers, including action icon Sylvester Stallone via his Balboa Productions banner. Michael Clear and Chris Lee are also part of the team overseeing the project.
This announcement is part of a broader strategy by Paramount, now under Skydance ownership, to secure top-tier filmmaking talent. Since the acquisition, the studio has signed deals with several major creators, including the Duffer Brothers and James Mangold.
James Wan is widely regarded as one of the most successful commercial directors of his generation. He is responsible for launching the Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring franchises. He also holds the rare achievement of directing two films that earned more than $1bn (£780m) at the global box office.
Filming dates and further casting for the roles of ‘The Cop’ and ‘The Devil’ have not yet been confirmed.
