Lionsgate Television is teaming up with acclaimed Korean director Park Chan-wook for an English-language TV adaptation of his iconic 2003 film Oldboy.
The film, celebrated for its intense narrative and a groundbreaking single-take corridor fight scene, has significantly influenced the action genre worldwide. Park, known for his meticulous craftsmanship, will serve as a producer for the series alongside his producing partner Syd Lim.
Oldboy follows the harrowing journey of Dae-su Oh, a Korean salaryman who, after a night of drinking, awakens to find himself locked in a decrepit hotel room for 15 years without explanation. Upon release, he is thrust into a quest for vengeance and understanding, weaving through a dense plot of mystery and revenge. The original story, loosely based on a Japanese manga series by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi, delves deeper into its characters and diverges significantly in its narrative from Park’s adaptation.
The adaptation marks the first television rendition of the Oldboy saga, expanding on the narrative layers and dark themes of its source material. While the 2013 Spike Lee remake of the same name (starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen) brought the story to an English-speaking audience, this series promises to harness the raw emotional intensity and iconic cinematographic style that have become synonymous with the original film.
Park Chan-wook commented on the collaboration, stating,
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television. I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
Scott Herbst, Lionsgate Television EVP and Head of Scripted Development, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting Park’s visionary storytelling and the series’ potential to translate the cinematic masterpiece to television screens. “This series adaptation of Oldboy will feature the raw emotional power, iconic fight scenes and visceral style that made the film a classic,” he said.
This venture into television is not new for Park, who has been increasingly involved in TV production, including TNT’s Snowpiercer and directing projects like AMC’s The Little Drummer Girl and HBO’s upcoming The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey Jr.
Details about the adaptation are still under wraps, with no announcements yet on casting or a showrunner. Lionsgate has also not provided a release date. As anticipation builds, Oldboy fans and newcomers alike are eager to see how this seminal work will be reimagined for the small screen, promising a fresh take on the revenge thriller that captivated audiences nearly two decades ago.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
