Though any early signs of progress appeared to be snuffed out, celebrated Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo still has one eye set on remaking his classic 1989 assassin film The Killer.
That’s according to the man himself, who recently revealed that he’s positioned “an American version” of the hardboiled actioner as his next project following the release of the Japan-set adaptation Manhunt. Per Screen Daily, Woo revealed that:
“I have never left [Hollywood]. I still enjoy working with Hollywood. I still have a couple of projects developing in Hollywood. So after Manhunt, I probably will go back to Hollywood to make another action thriller. I’m going to make The Killer in an American version.”
Long before the modern retelling was left languishing in development, South Korean director John H. Lee was in line to helm the remake, though soon moved on when there was no tangible sign of progress. Even Jung Woo-sung was attached to topline the feature, but it never came to pass, while John Travolta expressed his interest in The Killer at one point – possibly teeing up a reunion with Woo after Face/Off and Broken Arrow – though again, production setbacks put paid to that collaboration.
Still, despite initial setbacks, Woo remains very much determined to reinterpret his thriller for an American audience, just as soon as he wraps up work on Manhunt. Upon describing his adaptation of Juko Nishimura acclaimed novel, the filmmaker noted that “it’s a bit like going back to my own style. It’s a criminal story, with love and guns – and maybe some pigeons.”
For now, The Killer remains on the cards for John Woo, and we’re hoping the director can whip the remake into shape upon completing work on the aforementioned adaptation.