James Wan hasn’t directed a film in nearly three years, but that’s about to change, as he has decided on his next project.
Wan is set to helm a remake of the Korean film “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.” Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok and one of the stars of the original movie, is attached to star in Wan’s version.
I first saw “Gangster Cop Devil” at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it was a Midnight screening. It was fine, fun action, sort of convoluted, and not a story I imagined Hollywood wanting to remake. That’s actually a good thing — it means Wan’s film could improve upon the original, which rarely happens with remakes.
The movie follows a police detective and a notorious crime lord who are forced to join forces in pursuit of a serial murderer. Each, driven by their own agenda, navigates numerous betrayals and mind games, all while clashes erupt between law enforcement, criminal factions, and rival gangs.
Shay Hatten, who wrote the last two “John Wick” movies (good) and Zack Snyder’s last three films (bad), penned the screenplay based on a draft from Brian Helgeland (“L.A. Confidential”), who will serve as an executive producer. Hatten also wrote Zach Cregger’s upcoming “Resident Evil” movie.
Wan is now the latest filmmaker recruited by Paramount; the studio recently secured high-profile first-look deals with the Duffer Brothers, Jon M. Chu, James Mangold, Issa Rae, and Dan Trachtenberg.
Wan’s directorial credits include “Insidious,” “The Conjuring,” and “Malignant,” and he hasn’t directed a film since 2023’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” These days, he has mostly been producing, including installments in the ‘Insidious,’ ‘M3GAN,’ and ‘Conjuring’ franchises.
That sets up a real fight for #1 this weekend between "Clayface" and "You Can See Everything." If Fielder's documentary holds strong in its expansion, it has a legitimate shot at beating a DC movie