James Wan To Direct English-Language Remake of The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil

James Wan is set to return to the director’s chair with an English-language remake of the South Korean thriller The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, currently in development at Paramount Pictures.

The filmmaker, widely known for launching major horror franchises such as Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring, will direct and produce the project through his Atomic Monster banner. The remake will be developed in collaboration with Blumhouse and Balboa Productions, signalling another high-profile genre project for Wan as he moves back into darker territory.

One notable element from the original film will remain intact. Ma Dong-seok, also known internationally as Don Lee, is attached to reprise his role from the 2019 Korean film. His performance as a ruthless crime boss was one of the most memorable aspects of the original, and his return suggests the remake will retain some of the spirit that made the first film such a success.

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Directed by Lee Won-tae, The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil follows an uneasy alliance between a powerful mob boss and a determined police officer as they hunt down a violent serial killer. After surviving a brutal attack by the murderer, the gangster joins forces with law enforcement to track him down, creating a tense partnership built on conflicting motives and a shared desire for revenge.

The screenplay for the remake will be written by Shay Hatten, whose previous work includes entries in the John Wick franchise. The project is based on an earlier draft by Academy Award-winning writer Brian Helgeland, who will also serve as an executive producer.

The film marks Wan’s first directing project since Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023. While he has remained active as a producer in recent years, the remake represents a return to the kind of gritty genre storytelling that helped establish his career.

Further casting details and production plans are expected to be announced in the coming months.

About the Author

Megan Hilborne

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Megan is a freelance writer and film critic based in Portsmouth. She graduated with a degree in Film in 2020 and has continued her study of the medium in her day-to-day life. She takes particular interest in indie, horror, feminist and queer cinema. Some of her writing credits include an interview with Academy Award winner Sean Baker and Time’s 2025 Most Influential People inductee Mo Abudu.

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