Paramount Pictures is moving ahead with a new reimagining of the acclaimed South Korean crime thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, with filmmaker James Wan set to direct the project. The film will be an English-language adaptation of the 2019 hit and will reunite Wan with star Ma Dong-seok, who headlined the original film and is attached to reprise his role.
The original movie, directed by Lee Won-tae, became one of the most talked-about Korean action films of its year after premiering in the Midnight Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. The film went on to earn strong reviews and solid box office returns, particularly in South Korea, where it grossed nearly $25 million. Its intense action sequences and the unusual alliance between a crime boss and a police detective chasing a serial killer helped it develop a global fan base.
The upcoming Hollywood version will retain one of the original film’s biggest strengths: the presence of Don Lee. In the Korean film, Lee played a powerful mob boss who survives a brutal attack by a serial killer and later forms an uneasy partnership with a determined police detective in order to track the killer down. His performance became the centerpiece of the movie and helped elevate the film’s popularity internationally. Lee is expected to reprise that role in the new version while also serving as a producer through his company Big Punch Global.
James Wan’s involvement brings additional weight to the project. Over the past two decades, Wan has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most successful genre filmmakers, directing and producing major franchises including Saw, The Conjuring and Furious 7. Wan will produce the film through his banner Atomic Monster alongside longtime collaborator Michael Clear.
The screenplay for the remake is being written by Shay Hatten, whose previous credits include John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and the recent science-fiction epic Rebel Moon. The script is reportedly based on an earlier draft written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland, who remains attached to the project as an executive producer.
The producing team behind the film includes several notable names from both Hollywood and the Korean film industry. In addition to Wan and Lee, the project will also be produced by Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood through Stallone’s production banner Balboa Productions. Chris Lee of B&C Group and Jang Won-seok of BA Entertainment—who produced the original Korean film—are also involved, ensuring continuity between the original project and the upcoming adaptation.
Plans for an English-language remake of The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil have been circulating since shortly after the original film’s release in 2019. Stallone’s Balboa Productions acquired the remake rights at the time, recognizing the film’s strong premise and international appeal. However, the project has taken several years to move forward as studios worked to assemble the right creative team.
With Wan now attached to direct, the project appears to be gaining fresh momentum. Paramount’s involvement reflects the studio’s continued interest in adapting successful international properties for global audiences. In recent years, Hollywood studios have increasingly looked toward Asian cinema for remake opportunities, particularly films that combine strong genre storytelling with recognizable characters.
The core premise of the film—a mob boss and a detective forced to cooperate in order to hunt down a brutal serial killer—remains one of the most compelling elements of the original story. The uneasy alliance between law enforcement and organized crime adds a layer of moral ambiguity that helped distinguish the Korean film from more conventional crime thrillers.
For Don Lee, the remake also represents another major step in his growing international career. The actor gained worldwide recognition through his roles in films such as Train to Busan and later appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals. Returning to one of his most iconic roles in a Hollywood adaptation could further expand his global presence.
At this stage, the reimagining remains in early development. Paramount has not yet announced additional casting or a production timeline, and it remains unclear when filming might begin. Still, with a proven story, an established international star and a director known for delivering commercially successful genre films, the project is already drawing significant attention.
As Hollywood continues to explore international source material, Paramount’s reimagining of The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil could become another example of how successful global cinema can be reintroduced to a wider audience through a new creative lens.
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