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Old Boys Reunites I Am Legend Star, Writer

I AM LEGEND co-writer Mark Protosevich is in early talks with DreamWorks on the Korean remake of OLD BOY that would star Will Smith, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Smith, who starred in I AM LEGEND, is developing the film with Steven Spielberg. DreamWorks is purchasing the rights to OLD BOY from Mandate Pictures, who are staying involved. The studio is meeting with several other high-profile writers, but Smith invited Protosevich to meet with Spielberg.

The rights transfer with Mandate is not yet complete, and DreamWorks did not comment. Mandate bought the 2003 film co-written and directed by Park Chan-wook from Universal, who in turn bought the rights in 2004 with Vertigo Ent. (THE EYE, THE GRUDGE). OLD BOY follows a man's mysterious kidnapping, 15-year imprisonment and quest for revenge upon his release.

Besides direct remakes, adaptations of edgy Asian cinema have been popular in recent years, including the 2006 Best Picture winner THE DEPARTED at Warner Bros., which was originally the Hong Kong thriller INFERNAL AFFAIRS. Brad Ingelsby is working on an adaptation of the 2000 Korean gangster film DIE BAD that Marc Forster (QUANTUM OF SOLACE) is negotiating to direct for Universal.

OLD BOY would be DreamWorks' first acquisition since its departure from Paramount in September. Spielberg and co-chairman and CEO Stacey Snider took 17 projects with them. Spielberg has been working on directing the first film in a TINTIN series with Peter Jackson.

Protosevich wrote POSEIDON and THE CELL, and worked on THOR for Marvel Studios.

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