Universal has announced that Lupin’s Omar Sy will lead John Woo’s reimagining of The Killer. The project, based on Woo’s 1989 crime drama, is being developed as a premiere property for Peacock. Directed by John Woo (Face/Off, Broken Arrow, Hard Target), The Killer focuses on a disillusioned assassin (Chow Yun-Fat) who accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded. In addition to being one of the greatest action films of Woo’s illustrious career, The Killer has inspired action films and video games for generations.
Woo is directing and producing the reimagined version based on a script written by Matthew Stuecken, Josh Campbell (10 Cloverfield Lane), Eran Creevy (Welcome to the Punch, Collide), and Brian Helgeland (42, Legend). Universal Pictures’ Senior Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Development Executive Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project.
Sy is a French actor who stars in Netflix’s Lupin as the master thief Asane. Sy rose to stardom after his performance as Driss in Oliver Nakache and Eric Toledano’s The Intouchables. Sy’s outstanding performance in The Intouchables made him the first Black performer to win the César for Best Actor. He recently appeared in the WWI drama Father & Soldier, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
Knowing that he can deliver an action-packed performance alongside quality drama, Sy is the perfect choice to lead Woo’s reimagined version of The Killer. Sy is charismatic, fierce, and quick to spring into action. I look forward to seeing what he and Woo can create once the cameras start to roll.
Are you a fan of John Woo’s The Killer? Have you seen Sy in Netflix’s Lupin? How do you feel about directors returning to former projects to give them a spit shine with new actors? Let us know in the comments below.