Hong Kong-based director John Woo is set to remake the 1976 classic Japanese thriller "Manhunt." (Photo : commons.wikimedia.org)
John Woo, one of Hong Kong’s finest directors, is set to return to making action thriller films with his latest project, the remake of the classic Japanese thriller “Manhunt.”
The 1976 film is centered on the story of man who was framed for multiple murders and pursued by the authorities while fighting for his innocence. It is based on a Juko Nishimura-penned novel, "Kimi yo Eunnu no Kawa o Watara."
"Manhunt" was then top-billed by the late legendary actor Ken Takakura. The well-adored actor died last November.
Peter Lam, Media Asia's chairman, said that when he "found out the John was a huge fan of the late Ken Takakura, I immediately gave him a call, trying to convince him to direct the film for us."
Media Asia will produce the film, which will start shooting this year. Pre-sales will commence at next week's Hong Kong Filmart.
In an official statement, Media Asia emphasized that it is "high time" to bring "Manhunt" back to the big screen. It has bought the film's rights from the Japanese publisher of the novel, Tokuma Shoten Publishing.
The film was the first foreign movie production to have landed on Chinese theaters after the Cultural Revolution of Mao Zedong has ended. It became a huge success and a classic for Chinese movie enthusiasts.
Asked about his acceptance of the project, Woo recounted: "By chance I was mourning the loss of Takakura when Peter called. . . . I accepted the challenge in a heartbeat."
Woo, being a long-time admirer of the late actor, has always hoped to do film collaboration with him. Though it never happened, there was one instance when they did work--when Takakura read the eulogy Woo prepared during Kinji Eukasaku's funeral.
Woo is know for his films such as "Hard Boiled," "The Killer," and the to-be-completed "The Crossing," a two-part romantic war epic.
