Keanu Reeves in Talks to Join Don Lee in James Wan’s Brutal Crime Thriller THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL
Keanu Reeves might be getting ready to take on another brutal crime thriller, and this time he could be sharing the screen with Don Lee. The John Wick star is in talks to join director James Wan's upcoming remake of the Korean action thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil at Paramount Pictures.
The film is a new take on the acclaimed 2019 South Korean movie, which starred Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok. Lee is attached to reprise his role in the remake, potentially putting two of Hollywood's most badass action stars in the same movie.
The original story follows a gangster and a police detective who form an unlikely alliance to hunt down a serial killer. Neither man particularly likes the other, but catching the murderer forces them to work together. The film earned strong reviews following its premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
It's a great story for a gritty crime thriller, and the possibility of watching Reeves and Lee go head-to-head before eventually joining forces makes this remake a lot more interesting. Reeves knows how to deliver intense action, while Lee brings the kind of physical presence that hits hard.
Wan will direct the project, marking his first feature film since 2023's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He's best known for his work on Saw, The Conjuring, and Insidious, along with blockbuster films such as Furious 7. It'll be fun to see what he does with a violent, grounded crime story.
The remake has actually been in development since 2019, with Wan joining the project earlier this spring. Eric Pearson wrote the latest version of the screenplay, working from earlier drafts by Shay Hatten and Brian Helgeland.
Wan is also producing alongside Michael Clear and Jason Blum through Blumhouse Atomic Monster. Lee is producing through Big Punch Global, with Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller representing Balboa Productions, and Chris S. Lee producing through B&C Group.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura has also joined the producing team, while Helgeland and Billy Acumen will serve as executive producers.
After years of kicking ass in The Matrix and John Wick franchises, he recently starred in the Apple TV dramedy Outcome, directed by Jonah Hill, and lent his voice to Duke Caboom in Toy Story 5.
There's no word yet on which character Reeves would play in The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, and his deal hasn't been finalized.
He's also returning as Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, which Paramount has scheduled for March 19, 2027.
Source: Variety