When film fans learn that an international hit film is getting an “American remake,” most will just shake their head and ask, “Why?” That’s exactly what happened when it was announced that James Wan, of “Conjuring” and “Aquaman” fame, was signed on to produce an English-language remake of the South Korean zombie film, “Train to Busan.” But according to the remake’s writer, the American version isn’t just being made to do it. There’s a reason to remake it.
Speaking to SlashFilm, writer Gary Dauberman explains that he’s still working on the script for the upcoming “Train to Busan” remake, but that it’s definitely chugging right along. And yes, he’s aware that the original film is a fan-favorite and many of those fans are already questioning why Wan and Dauberman would even attempt it.
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Specifically, the writer was asked if the duo had found a “good reason” to remake the South Korean film.
“Yes,” replied Dauberman. “I won’t get more into that but that’s one of those movies that’s so fucking great, it’s so well done, you don’t want to do anything that’s going to be less than.”
He added, “I think we’re certainly getting there. It feels like there’s a reason to make the American version without ruining the experience of the original.”
Obviously, without much detail about what the “reason” is to remake the film, this will do little to sway film fans that are still apprehensive about yet another American remake of a great foreign-language film. Also, with Netflix giving horror fans all across the world the chance to watch the film, there actually isn’t much of a reason for a remake, to begin with.
Even just a few years ago, it made sense that studios would greenlight American remakes of foreign films because, for the most part, either the original was never shown in wide release or was never released in the US, at all. But “Train to Busan” has not only found an audience on streaming, but it’s been thriving.
Alas, we’ll have to wait a while longer before figuring out what Dauberman and Wan have up their sleeves. It appears that we’re still in the early stages of development on the project. But until then, “Train to Busan” fans might have a reason to be cautiously optimistic.