Screenwriter Derek Kolstad‘s name has been recurring news for some of the best reasons in the past few years – one of which lists his recent work on the upcoming third chapter of the John Wick franchise from Lionsgate. As of Thursday, you can now tack on a remake of Lee Jeong-beom’s The Man From Nowhere as among the lot with word from Deadline that Kolstad is penning the script following the studio’s attachment in 2016.
Lee’s film became an explosive South Korean hit that won multiple awards next to it’s critical acclaim and preceding its five-week sustenance at the No.1 spot whilst earning $42 million dollars. Featuring slick action sequences by Park Jung-ryul (Inside Men, Typhoon), actor Won Bin led the film alongside young actress Kim Sae-Ron for the riveting story of a reclusive pawnshop keeper and former assassin who, in the wake of a police investigation into his past, turns to his old skillset when his junkie neighbor’s daughter is kidnapped by organ-trafficking gangsters looking for stolen drugs.
Dimension Films at one point moved forward with a remake of their own before it collapsed and Nishikant Kamat’s own remake, Rocky Handsome, starring John Abraham was released to less avail compare to its predecessor. That now leaves Kolstad with a major task on his hands to deliver the magic required to earn the appeal of fans who are steadfast on the original, although considering the high reception of the first two John Wick films, it’s not like Kolstad hasn’t proven himself.
CJ Entertainment is attached to produce the English remake. Stay tuned!
