Spielberg, Smith’s plans to remake ‘Old Boy’ thrown into jeopardy

LONDON - American film director Steven Spielberg and actor Will Smith’s plans to remake cult Korean movie ‘Old Boy’ have been thrown into jeopardy, as the original makers of the 2003 hit are allegedly not authorised to grant a remake.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Spielberg and Smith had recently secured the rights to modernise director Park Chan-Wook’s film from producers Show East.

But Show East filmmakers have found themselves at the centre of a lawsuit from Futabasha bosses, the Japanese publishers of the original manga series, who claim the producers were in no position to negotiate with the Hollywood heavyweights and Universal studios.

Seoul-based Show East has since shut down and its executives have ceased all contact with Futabasha, further complicating legal proceedings, which began last week.

“We haven’t been able to confirm that Show East is bankrupt, and at this stage we’re not sure what effect this will have on the legal case,” the Daily Star quoted a spokesperson for Futabasha as saying.

But, Universal bosses are refusing to halt pre-production on Spielberg and Smith’s planned version and have given them the green light to continue work on the forthcoming movie. (ANI)