FilmDistrict acquires Spike Lee's Oldboy remake

It's official: the South Korean, cult-classic film Oldboy is getting an Americanized remake, courtesy of one Spike Lee. After being in limbo for several years, is set to finally begin shooting next month in Georgia with Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen and Sharlto Copley starring. Now, at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has already been picked up for domestic distribution rights by FilmDistrict, the same company that brought opening-night film Looper to the festival.

"Spike Lee is the right filmmaker to re-imagine and put his touch onto arguably one of the most talked about thrillers in recent memory," said Peter Schlessel of FilmDistrict, who will now also serve as executive producer on the film. "The cast that he and producers Nathan [Kahane], Joe [Drake], Roy [Lee] and Doug [Davison] have put together is sure to elevate the material and engage audiences."

Mark Protosevich will adapt the screenplay of Chan-woo Park's original 2003 film, and Spike Lee is sitting in the director's chair. ~Devin Garabedian