Spielberg’s ‘Old Boy’ remake at centre of controversy

LONDON - Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg and actor Will Smith’s plan to remake cult Korean film Old Boy seems to have become jeopardised as the makers of the 2003 hit are not authorised to give permission for a remake.

Spielberg and Smith recently secured the rights to modernise director Park Chan-Wook’s film, which was produced by Show East.

But Show East have found themselves at the centre of a lawsuit from Futabasha officials, the Japanese publishers of the original series, who claim the producers were in no position to negotiate with the Hollywood filmmakers and Universal Studios, reported dailystar.co.uk

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.

However, 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.