Hollywood is a gigantic battlefield where studios compete for dollars and concrete deals. This is what this monstrous deal that has just been signed illustrates Warner Bros. to cut the grass from under the feet of Netflix.
Warner conquers South Korea
The enormous success of Squid Game and of Hellbound on Netflix have revealed, to those who still doubt it, the enormous potential of South Korean series. The company N rouge is aware of this craze, and regularly signs large checks to produce films and series from the Land of Morning Calm. These productions are also two-cartridge rifles, as illustrated by the recent announcement of an American remake of Squid Game produced and directed by the great David Fincher (Se7en, Zodiac, Mindhunter) : each South Korean production produced by the platform can give rise to an English-speaking remake. This completely resonates with the vast enterprise of live-action Japanese anime adaptations produced by Netflix.
We learn today in the columns of Variety what Warner Bros. Discovery has just signed an absolutely monstrous deal with South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM. Korean cinema fans know her well, since she is behind some of the biggest masterpieces from South Korea. We are thinking in particular of the feature films of the two leaders of the New Wave of South Korean cinema : Park Chan-wook (JSA, Old Boy, Mademoiselle) et Bong Joon-ho (Memories of Murder, Mother, Parasite).
The two companies signed an agreement aimed atdevelop, finance and distribute English and Korean remakes of each studio’s films“. Each structure will have a right to review its partner’s remakes, particularly in the choice of directors and screenwriters. In other words, we can expect to see American versions of Sympathy for Mister Vengeance and Korean Harry Potter et Interstellar.
In addition to setting up Warner Bros. as a direct competitor to Netflix on the Korean cinema market, the studio strengthens its relationship with directors Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho. The first wrote and directed the series The Sympathizer for HBO (the cable channel of the Warner group) and A24, while the second will unveil its science fiction feature film Mickey 17 in April 2025, produced by the Hollywood major. We also don’t forget that Bong Joon-ho signed a partnership with HBO to develop a series linked to Parasite.
We also remember that Park Chan-wook announced in April 2024 that he was working on a series adaptation ofOldboy in collaboration with Lionsgate. While we still don’t know the South Korean cinema legend’s level of involvement in the series – will he be a director? showrunner? executive producer? or simple consultant? -, we now wonder if Warner Bros. now part of the deal. To be continued!
Source: hitek.fr
