Reports are coming in via Deadline that several studios have become ravenous for the chance to snag TRAIN TO BUSAN, a remake of the 2016 Korean film helmed by San-ho Yeon. The film tells the harrowing story of a group of passengers who encounter a zombie outbreak while aboard a train traveling from Seoul to Busan. THE NUN and IT writer Gary Dauberman is penning the script, which AQUAMAN director James Wan is set to produce. Word has it that New Line, Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate and Screen Gems are all looking to punch their ticket for the rights to the remake, with studios are said to be offering up to seven figures for the package.
When the original TRAIN TO BUSAN hit theaters in South Korea, the unique zombie action flick earned $85 million overseas, but the train had slowed to a crawl in the U.S. with only $2 million to add to its worldwide gross. For the moment, it's a possibility that Dauberman will direct the feature, though no official word has been confirmed. Although typically known for his writing chops, Dauberman is poised to helm the next cinematic chapter of Wan's ANNABELLE series, for the on-going Conjuring franchise.
If you have yet to check out San-ho Yeon's TRAIN TO BUSAN, I highly recommend that you do just that. In my experience, I'd found the film to be a breath of fresh air in a genre that's figuratively been done to death by countless filmmakers. The movie is intense, heart-breaking, and outlandishly gory in ways that stand to remind you of just how great a quality zombie film can be.
We'll be sure to bring you any news on the remake of TRAIN TO BUSAN as it develops.