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James Wan came on board to direct and produce the English-language reimagining of the Korean film Gangster, cop, devil for Paramount Pictures, becoming the latest bold-faced filmmaker to be hired by the Skydance-owned studio. Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok and one of the stars of the original film, is attached to star in the new project.
Wan is already producing the next installment in Paranormal activity franchise for Paramount, but the crime thriller could mark his first film since 2023’s big-budget DC film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Wan will produce via his Blumhouse-Atomic Monster banner. Atomic Monster’s Michael Clare will also produce.
The duo joins a producer roster that includes Lee, who produces via Big Punch Global, Sylvester Stallone, D.J. Matt Geller via Balboa Productions, as well as Chris Lee of B&C Group, and Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment.
It premiered at a midnight screening at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Gangster cop devil The film tells the story of a police officer and a mob boss who reluctantly team up to track down a serial killer. With each of them having their own motivations to catch the killer, games of cat and mouse ensue, along with helping police versus criminals and gangs versus gangs.
The film stars Lee as a gangster, Kim Moo-yeol as an officer, and Kim Sung-kyu as a serial killer.
Shay Hattin, known for his work on John Wick Franchise and Rebellious moon He is writing the screenplay based on a draft by Brian Helgeland (Knight’s Tale, Los Angeles Secret), who will serve as executive producer.
The studio acquired the rights in June 2022.
Paramount has been keeping tabs on big-name filmmakers since it was acquired by Skydance last year, securing high-profile creative partnerships, both through projects and first-look deals. The family of new directors includes the Duffer Brothers, Jon M. Chu, James Mangold, Issa Rae, and Dan Trachtenberg.
Wan is a director and producer best known for his successful series of horror films, most notably The Conjuring Universe. As fired opinion and The malicious Horror lines. As a director, Wan also has the rare distinction of directing two films that have earned over $1 billion at the worldwide box office – Angry 7the first global film to reach $1 billion, and Aquaman. Wan is repped by CAA, Stacey Testro International and Myman Greenspan Fox.
Helgeland is repped by WME and Jackoway Austen while Hatten is repped by CAA and Lichter Grossman. Lee is represented by Gersh.
