‘Veteran’: Michael Mann Working On An English-Language Adaptation Of The Popular South Korean Film

Sure, we all know that Michael Mann is currently prepping the release of “Ferrari.” And then, after that, he’ll be hard at work on bringing “Heat 2” to life. But what else does the filmmaker have up his sleeve? Well, according to Variety, it appears the Mann is working on an adaptation of the Korean hit film, “Veteran.”

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The report claims that Michael Mann is working with Korean studio, CJ ENM, on an English-language adaptation of the crime film, “Veteran.” It’s still in the early stages, but we know that Mann is definitely attached to help write the script. However, it’s still undetermined if he’ll actually direct the film when it comes to that point or not. 

Much like the aforementioned “Heat,” the film “Veteran” features a story about a cop versus a bad guy. However, in “Veteran,” the bad guy in question isn’t actually a criminal. Instead, it’s a businessman, and the honest cop has to work to bring justice for someone who has been affected by this businessman’s dealings. Interestingly, the original film has a more comedic tone, appealing to general audiences, but it’s unclear if Mann would rather keep the serious nature of the story and ditch most of the humor. One thing we do know for certain is that Mann wants to relocate the film from its original South Korean setting to a U.S. city. 

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As mentioned, before we get too deep into speculation about “Veteran,” it’s important to note that Mann’s involvement might be delayed because of his work on “Heat 2.” We know that he was working on “Veteran” before the WGA strike, but it’s unclear how his priorities will line up. He has spoken publicly about wanting to direct “Heat 2” next, and you would presume that would put “Veteran” on the backburner. 

Regardless, it appears Mann has a busy couple of years ahead of him, at least.