James Wan is set to direct an English-language reimagining of the 2019 Korean crime thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil for Paramount Pictures. Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to star alongside Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok, who is attached to reprise his role from the original film. The project marks Wan’s first directing job since 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Production is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in April 2027. Paramount has not announced a release date.
What the Original Film Was About
The 2019 Korean movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings section. It was directed by Lee Won-tae. The story follows a police officer and a crime boss who reluctantly team up to track down a serial killer. Each man has his own reason for wanting the killer caught, and their uneasy partnership leads to double-crosses, cat-and-mouse games, and plenty of gang-versus-gang action.
Don Lee starred in the original as Jang Dong-soo, a feared gang boss who survives an attack by a serial killer and teams up with a detective to restore his reputation. Kim Sung-kyu played the killer, and Kim Mu-yeol played the cop. The film earned about $25.7 million at the global box office and drew strong reviews for its performances and story.
Keanu Reeves and Don Lee Lead the Cast
Keanu Reeves is in talks to join the remake, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Deadline. His role has not been confirmed, but his addition would pair him with Don Lee in a story built around an unlikely alliance between a criminal and a law officer.
Reeves remains one of the busiest action stars in Hollywood. He last starred in Apple TV’s dramedy Outcome, directed by Jonah Hill. He is also voicing Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, which Paramount will release on March 19, 2027.
Don Lee is producing the remake through his company Big Punch Global. He is the only confirmed cast member returning from the 2019 film. Ma Dong-seok is his Korean name, and he is known globally for Train to Busan and Eternals.
The Producers Behind the Remake
The producing team is large and includes names from both the original film and Hollywood.
- James Wan, Michael Clear, and Jason Blum via Blumhouse-Atomic Monster
- Don Lee via Big Punch Global
- Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller via Balboa Productions
- Chris S. Lee of B&C Group
- Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment
- Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions acquired the US remake rights in 2019. The project spent years in development before James Wan came on board in spring 2026. Paramount announced his involvement in March 2026.
The Script and Writing Team
Eric Pearson wrote the latest draft of the screenplay. Pearson’s credits include Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four: First Steps. His script is based on earlier drafts by Shay Hatten and Brian Helgeland.
Shay Hatten wrote John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, John Wick: Chapter 4, and the spinoff Ballerina. Brian Helgeland wrote L.A. Confidential and A Knight’s Tale. Helgeland and Billy Acumen are executive producers.
When Filming Starts and What Comes Next
Production is set to begin in Los Angeles in April 2027, according to Production Weekly and reports from ComingSoon and The Cinemaholic. The schedule follows several reported delays on the project.
Paramount has not set a release date. The film does not have an official title beyond its connection to the Korean original. No additional cast members have been confirmed.
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James Wan Returns to the Director’s Chair
James Wan built his career on horror. He directed the first Saw film in 2004, then launched the Insidious and The Conjuring franchises. The Conjuring Universe has earned more than $2.7 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing horror franchise in Hollywood.
Wan moved into blockbuster action with Furious 7 in 2015 and Aquaman in 2018. Both films crossed $1 billion at the global box office. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrived in 2023 and closed out the DC Extended Universe.
The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil remake is a different kind of project for Wan. It is a crime thriller with no supernatural elements. The original Korean film was praised for its tense pacing and the chemistry between its leads. Wan’s job will be to translate that story for English-speaking audiences while keeping the grit and double-crosses that made the original work.
Also Read: 13 Korean Dramas Like Squid Game to Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
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