Steven Spielberg and Will Smith to remake suspense thriller Oldboy

Variety reports that Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are talking about collaborating on a remake of Chan Wook-park’s cult thriller Oldboy. DreamWorks is securing remake rights, which will be distributed by Universal, under their new agreement.

In the 2003 Korean film, a man is mysteriously kidnapped and held in a decrepit prison cell for 15 years with no explanation whatsoever. Suddenly he’s released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.

Spielberg had been looking for an opportunity to make a film with Smith, who would play the tormented man, if the project comes together.

Spielberg is next looking to direct the fantasy Tintin. He is also working on a biopic of Abraham Lincoln, and is producing Jurassic Park IV, and a remake of sci-fi movie When Worlds Collide, with Stephen Sommers attached to direct.

Will Smith is about to release the drama Seven Pounds, and is currently developing a prequel to I Am Legend, the historical war piece The Last Pharoah, a comedy remake called Welcome to the Sticks and the Michael Mann film Empire.

Below is the trailer for the original Oldboy.