Hollywood is once again turning to Korean cinema for inspiration, and this time a major filmmaker is leading the charge. Acclaimed director James Wan has officially joined an English-language reimagining of the Korean action thriller “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.” The project is being developed at Paramount Pictures, which continues to expand its roster of high-profile filmmakers following its acquisition by Skydance.
The remake will also bring back one of the original film’s biggest stars. Don Lee, widely known as Ma Dong-seok, is attached to star in the new version of the story.
James Wan Returns To The Director’s Chair
The upcoming film could mark James Wan’s first directorial feature since Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023). While Wan has remained active as a producer — including working on the next installment in the Paranormal Activity franchise for Paramount — this new action crime thriller signals his return to the kind of gritty storytelling that made him one of Hollywood’s most versatile directors.
Wan will also produce the film through his production company Atomic Monster, which recently merged with Blumhouse. Longtime collaborator Michael Clear will serve as a co-producer.
The project brings together a strong lineup of producers that includes Don Lee through Big Punch Global, Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller via Balboa Productions, along with Chris Lee of B&C Group and Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment.
Revisiting A Cult Korean Action Thriller
The original “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival’s Midnight Screening, quickly becoming a favorite among fans of intense crime dramas. Directed by Lee Won-tae, the film built a reputation for its brutal action sequences and unusual alliance between two sworn enemies.
The story revolves around a police detective and a powerful crime boss who are forced to work together after both cross paths with a terrifying serial killer. Despite their conflicting motives, the two men reluctantly form a partnership to hunt down the murderer.
As their pursuit unfolds, the film becomes a tense game of deception, filled with double-crosses, gang conflicts, and relentless cat-and-mouse chases between criminals and law enforcement.
In the original Korean film, Don Lee played the gangster, while Kim Mu-yeol portrayed the determined police officer and Kim Sung-kyu took on the role of the mysterious serial killer.
A Screenplay From Top Action Writers
The English-language adaptation is being written by Shay Hatten, a screenwriter known for his work on the John Wick series and Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon films.
The screenplay is based on an earlier draft by Oscar-winning writer Brian Helgeland, whose credits include L.A. Confidential and A Knight’s Tale. Helgeland will also serve as an executive producer on the project.
Paramount initially secured the remake rights for the film in June 2022, and the studio has been steadily developing the project ever since.
Paramount Builds A Powerful Filmmaker Lineup
The announcement also highlights Paramount’s broader strategy following its acquisition by Skydance. The studio has been aggressively forming partnerships with some of the industry’s most recognizable creative names.
Among the filmmakers currently collaborating with the studio are The Duffer Brothers, Jon M. Chu, James Mangold, Issa Rae, and Dan Trachtenberg — a roster that reflects Paramount’s push toward large-scale franchise storytelling and globally appealing projects.
James Wan’s Blockbuster Legacy
James Wan remains one of the most influential genre filmmakers of the past two decades. He helped launch several of the most successful horror franchises in modern cinema, including The Conjuring Universe, Saw, and Insidious.
Beyond horror, Wan has also proven his blockbuster credentials. He directed Furious 7, the first film in the Fast & Furious franchise to cross $1 billion at the global box office, and later delivered another billion-dollar hit with Aquaman.
That track record makes him a natural fit for a high-stakes action thriller like The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil remake.
Final Words
With James Wan stepping behind the camera and Don Lee returning to the role that made the original film such a hit, Paramount’s remake of “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” is already shaping up to be a major action project. Combining Hollywood star power with a story that proved its strength in Korean cinema, the film could introduce a wider global audience to one of the genre’s most gripping crime thrillers.
