While he has stayed relatively quiet since his 2008 failure Miracle at St. Anna, director Spike Lee is back in a big way as he has just revealed two projects, one huge and one more personal. He first tweeted early this morning the following message:
Wake Up. I been up since 430am. On the way to the set of THE NEW SPIKE LEE JOINT.Today is 1st Day of Shooting.Awwwwwwwwwwww Sheeeeeeeeeeeeet
Blackfilm clues us in on what it actually is, a drama in which he will reprise his famous character Mookie, from his iconic 1989 classic Do the Right Thing. Titled Red Hook Summer, “the story centers on a adult from Atlanta who comes and spends the summer in Red Hook section of Brooklyn, NY.” He will be playing his pizza delivery character, but no word on what time period the film is set in, or who else is part of the cast. Stay tuned as we learn more updates.
As Twitch confirmed just a few days ago, Lee has also been officially confirmed to direct a remake of Chan-wook Park‘s 2003 modern masterpiece Oldboy. While that South Korean director will have no involvement, we don’t know how closely this film will follow the original. Mark Romanek was also attached at one point, after Steven Spielberg and Will Smith circled the remake. Check out the full press release below.
Los Angeles (July 11, 2011) – Mandate Pictures announced today that Spike Lee (Inside Man) will direct OLDBOY, a remake of the highly-acclaimed South Korean film. Mark Protosevich has adapted the screenplay and will co-produce. Roy Lee and Doug Davison (The Departed, The Grudge) will produce. The film is a Vertigo Entertainment/40 Acres & A Mule Production. Mandate President Nathan Kahane will executive produce.
“It’s a great honor to put this special project into the hands of such a gifted writer and iconic director,” said Kahane.
OLDBOY tells the story of a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned on his daughter’s birthday. For fifteen years, he is held captive, and, upon his release, must begin his journey to find the reason for his imprisonment. He soon finds out that his kidnapper has plans for him more tortuous than his solitary confinement. The original film, released in 2003, directed by Chan-wook Park won the Grand Prize Jury Award at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
Which film are you more excited for? Will Lee do justice to Oldboy?