This summer will mark five years since Train to Busan hit theaters in South Korea and put a novel spin on the zombie genre. In that timeframe, the film has also gained a strong international fanbase, which makes the idea of an American remake seem completely unnecessary. Regardless, that’s exactly what New Line is aiming to do. Deadline brings word that the studio is eyeing director Timo Tjahjanto to update the movie for U.S. audiences.
The original film had its world premiere at Cannes in 2016 before opening in South Korea later that year. It centered on a divorced workaholic father tasked with bringing his daughter to her mother’s house in Busan. However, their train ride to the city coincides with the outbreak of a zombie plague erupting around the country. The film was directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Additionally, it featured a handful of South Korean actors who have since moved on to bigger and better projects. The cast included Choi Woo-shik, who played a major role in 2019’s Best Picture winner, Parasite, and Don Lee, who will soon appear in Marvel’s Eternals. Last year, Sang-ho helmed a standalone sequel, Peninsula, but it failed to match Train to Busan’s critical success.
Tjahjanto is known for being half of the Indonesian filmmaking duo known as The Mo Brothers. Together with his partner, Kimo Stamboel, Tjahjanto directed the horror movies Macabre, Killers, and Headshot. He later struck out on his own with films like May the Devil Take You and The Night Comes For Us. Both of those films were released on Netflix.
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James Wan and Michael Clear are producing the Train to Busan remake through their Atomic Monster banner. Gary Dauberman, a veteran of the Conjuring franchise and co-writer of both It films, is writing the script. Dauberman is also producing through Coin Operated. Judson Scott, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee and Johanna Byer are onboard as executive producers.
New Line hasn’t set a release date for its Train to Busan remake. In the meantime, fans can still stream the original movie on Amazon Prime.
Do you think a Train to Busan remake is a good idea? Let us know in the comments down below!
Recommended Viewing: Train to Busan (Blu-ray)
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