Oldboy TV Show Adaptation Is Coming From Original Director

Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook is teaming up with Lionsgate Television to develop the first English-language series adaptation of his acclaimed film, Oldboy. Park, who directed and co-wrote the original film loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name, will produce the new series alongside his partner Syd Lim, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” Park said. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”

Scott Herbst, executive vice president and head of scripted development for Lionsgate Television, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Park, describing him as “one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation.” Herbst emphasized that the series adaptation of Oldboy would maintain the “raw emotional power, iconic fight scenes, and visceral style that made the film a classic.”

Originally released in 2003, Oldboy follows the story of a man held prisoner in a sealed hotel room for 15 years. Upon his sudden release, he must uncover the reasons behind his captivity within five days. The film, praised upon its release and widely regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century, features a cast including Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung, and Oh Dal-su.

Oldboy, notorious for its brutal action scenes, recently got an amazing special-edition box set release, packing in hours of extra content alongside a 4K Blu-ray version of the film. Currently, there are no streaming options available for the movie in the West.

Should the series move forward, it would not be the first English-language adaptation of Oldboy. An American version directed by Spike Lee and starring Josh Brolin was released in 2013.

Park has previously worked on projects including The Handmaiden, Snowpiercer, and HBO’s limited series The Sympathizer.