James Wan to Direct ‘The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil’ for Paramount

James Wan has joined Paramount Pictures to direct and produce an English-language remake of the Korean film *The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil*, becoming the latest prominent filmmaker signed by the Skydance-owned studio. Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok and a star of the original film, has been attached to star in the new project.

Wan is currently producing the next installment in the *Paranormal Activity* franchise for Paramount, but this action crime thriller could mark his first feature film since 2023’s big-budget *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom*.

Wan will produce the project under his Blumhouse-Atomic Monster banner, with Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear also on board as a producer.

The production team includes Lee, producing via Big Punch Global, Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller through Balboa Productions, Chris Lee of B&C Group, and Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment.

Originally premiering at the Midnight Screening at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, *Gangster, Cop, Devil* follows a police officer and a crime boss who reluctantly team up to track down a serial killer.

 Each has their own motives, leading to double-crosses, cat-and-mouse games, and a mix of police versus criminals and gang versus gang action.

The original film starred Lee as the gangster, Kim Mu-yeol as the officer, and Kim Sung-kyu as the serial killer.

Shay Hatten, known for his work on the *John Wick* franchise and *Rebel Moon* movies, is writing the screenplay based on a draft by Brian Helgeland (*A Knight’s Tale*, *L.A. Confidential*), who will serve as an executive producer.

Paramount acquired the rights to the film in June 2022.

Since being acquired by Skydance last year, Paramount has been securing high-profile creative partnerships, including projects or first-look deals.

 Notable additions to the studio’s new filmmaker roster include the Duffer Brothers, Jon M. Chu, James Mangold, Issa Rae, and Dan Trachtenberg.

Wan is best known as a director and producer of hit horror franchises, especially *The Conjuring Universe*, and launched the *Saw* and *The Insidious* horror series.

 As a director, Wan has the rare distinction of having helmed two films that earned over $1 billion worldwide—*Furious 7*, the first Universal film to reach that milestone, and *Aquaman*. Wan is represented by CAA, Stacey Testro International, and David Fox at Myman Greenspan.

Helgeland is represented by WME and Jackoway Austen, while Hatten is represented by CAA and Lichter Grossman.

 Lee is represented by Gersh.