Korean Revenge Movie "I Saw The Devil" Set for an English-Language Remake

Adi Shankar and Spencer Silna’s 1984 Private Defense Contractors has acquired English language remake rights to 2010 South Korean Kim Jee Woon (The Good, The Bad, The Weirdand A Tale of Two Sisters) helmed revenge thriller I SAW THE DEVIL, which is widely regarded as the most violent and elaborate revenge story ever told onscreen. Rather than just finding the criminal, killing him, and ending the story, I SAW THE DEVIL asks the question “what if the hero becomes the criminal?” Focusing on the characters rather than the mystery of finding the criminal, I SAW THE DEVIL details the journey of vengeance beyond all realms of sanity. The realistic and brutal violence is one of the most explicit displays of violence ever seen on film. [hit the jump to continue]

Shankar says, “Kim Jee Woon’s I SAW THE DEVIL is perfect in so many ways.  The intention is not to remake the film per say but rather to “port” it console style for international audiences.”

In the 2010 Korean original, Oldboy’s CHOI Min-sik plays Kyung-chul, a dangerous psychopath who kills for pleasure. The embodiment of pure evil, he has committed horrifying and senselessly cruel serial murders on defenseless victims, successfully eluding capture by the police.  His latest victim is the beautiful Ju-yeon, pregnant fiancée of elite special agent Soo-hyun (The Good, The Bad, The Weird’s LEE Byung-hyun). Obsessed with revenge, Soo-hyun decides to track down the murderer, even if doing so means becoming a monster himself. And when he finds Kyung-chul, turning him in to the authorities is the last thing on his mind.  The lines between good and evil fall away in this diabolically twisted game of cat and mouse. Pushing the concept of revenge to its most extreme limits, the film transcends the police procedural and serial killer genres in surprising and thrilling new ways.

1984 Private Defense Contractors, has fast made a name for itself by producing a string of violent, filmmaker-driven, action & crime movies.  1984′s filmography includes 2011’s “Machine Gun Preacher,” the critical and commercial hit ”The Grey” starring Liam Neeson, “Dredd,” and the lauded gangster drama “Killing Them Softly,” starring Brad Pitt, 2013’s crime thriller “Broken City” starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe, and action drama “Lone Survivor” starring Mark Wahlberg.  Upcoming releases include both the crime drama “A Walk Among the Tombstones” starring Liam Neeson and written & directed by Academy Award Nominee Scott Frank and fantastical crime thriller “The Voices” starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by Academy Award Nominee Marjane Satrapi.  Most recently 1984 has made headline for developing a project that the internet has dubbed “The Female Expendables” with Gina Carano and Katee Sackhoff attached.