Keanu Reeves could be joining forces with James Wan for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming crime thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil. The John Wick star is reportedly in negotiations to headline the English-language reimagining of the acclaimed 2019 South Korean film, with Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok, returning to reprise his original role.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, which first broke the news on October 20, 2026, Reeves is being considered for a leading role opposite Lee. However, negotiations are ongoing, and his character has not been officially revealed.
Keanu Reeves Could Join Don Lee in Crime Thriller
The original The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, directed by Lee Won-tae, follows crime boss Jang Dong-su, who survives a brutal encounter with a serial killer.
Determined to seek revenge, Dong-su reluctantly joins forces with detective Jung Tae-seok, who wants to bring the murderer to justice.
Their uneasy partnership creates a dangerous conflict between personal vengeance and law enforcement.
Released in May 2019, the Korean film starred Don Lee, Kim Mu-yeol and Kim Sung-kyu. It also screened at the Cannes Film Festival and attracted more than 3.3 million moviegoers in South Korea.
Interestingly, Lee’s return as the same gangster distinguishes Paramount’s adaptation from a conventional Hollywood remake, preserving a direct connection to the original.
Although Reeves could fit naturally into the story’s action-driven world, Paramount has not disclosed whether he would portray the detective or another character.
James Wan Returns to Directing After Aquaman 2
The project marks James Wan’s first feature directorial effort since Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023.
Known for directing Saw, The Conjuring, Furious 7 and Aquaman, Wan brings considerable experience in suspense and large-scale action filmmaking.
The remake has been developing since 2019, with Wan joining as director in March 2026.
Eric Pearson, whose credits include Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, wrote the latest screenplay, following earlier drafts by Shay Hatten and Brian Helgeland.
Sylvester Stallone and Jason Blum Join Production
The film has an extensive production team, including Wan, Michael Clear and Jason Blum through Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller are producing through Balboa Productions, while Don Lee is involved through Big Punch Global.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Chris S. Lee are also among the producers.
Despite the high-profile talent attached, Paramount has not announced an official filming schedule or theatrical release date.
Reeves’ potential involvement adds considerable star power to a project that already has an established Korean action star and an experienced Hollywood director.
The next important development will be confirmation of his casting and the role he will play opposite Don Lee.
