UPDATE:Sources have told Collider’s Jeff Sneider that New Line Cinema is in final negotiations to close a deal for the rights toTrain to Busan. Original story below:
Modern day horror world-builder James Wan will produce a remake of the Korean zombie flickTrain to BusanwithThe Nunwriter Gary Dauberman providing the script.Deadlinereports that a bidding war is a-ragin' right now over the rights to the remake, with New Line, Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate and Screen Gems all getting in on the action.
DirectorSan-ho Yeon’sfilm–which follows passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan in the middle of a zombie outbreak—did absolute gangbusters in South Korea and worldwide, taking in $85 million at the box office. The U.S. domestic box office, though, only accounted for $2 million of that take. But if there’s anyone to usher in a successful remake it’s the Wan-Dauberman duo. Wan practically created a modern day horror universe withThe Conjuringfilms, which have branched off into twoAnnabellefilms andThe Nunspin-off, all written by Dauberman, who also penned the hitITadaptation.
Dauberman’s a bit of a mixed bag quality-wise;ITruled, butAnnabelleis by far the weakestConjuringoffering and the scariest thing aboutThe Nunwas my deep-seeded Catholic guilt. But there’s no denying the man writes hits.The Nunopened to a downright sinful $53 million, higher than the first weekends for bothConjuringandAnnabellefilms.
It’s hard to say whenTrain to Busancould possibly kick off production, as both producer and writer are a bit busy at the moment. Wan is about to release a film you may have heard of, titledAquaman,following the underwater adventures ofJason Momoa. Dauberman has his own comic book project in the works, aSwamp Thingseries for DC’s streaming service DC Universe, as well asIT: Chapter 2and a third film in theAnnabellefranchise.
What do you think? Do you trust Wan and Dauberman withTrain to Busan? Let us know in the comments below?
