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Hollywood Buys "Chaser" Remake Rights

South Korea's surprise hit, "The Chaser", a tensely-paced crime-thriller directed by Na Hong-jin, has had its remake rights picked up by Warner Bros. for an impressive US$1 million. Since its local release Feb.14, the film has climbed to the top of the local box office, grossing about US$25 million thus far.

Asian remake king Roy Lee snapped up rights from international sales house Fine Cut and has set up the project with Warner Bros. Lee is known as a force behind many successful remakes of Asian films including Infernal Affairs (as The Departed), The Grudge (from Japan), The Lake House (Korea's "Il Mare"), and Shutter (Thailand.)

With hopes to repeat the success of The Departed, Warner Bros. has slated that film's star, Leonardo DiCaprio for the remake, with writer William Monahan attached to pen the adaptation.

"The Chaser" is director NA's debut feature and was made on a relatively small budget with two low-profile lead actors. Along with success at home, the film also did well abroad, selling at Berlin's European Film Market to France, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. Produced by Bidangil, the film is distributed locally by Showbox and represented internationally by new sales outfit Fine Cut.

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)

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