Lupita Nyong’o is in negotiations to star in John Woo’s remake of his 1989 Hong Kong classic, The Killer. The film will be produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and is intended to be a star vehicle for Nyong’o.
The film is a touchstone picture, one widely emulated for its balletic, stylized violent scenes. The redo will blend espionage with extraordinary stunts to capture the feel of the original. Universal VP Production Sara Scott will oversee for the studio.
Nyong’o will be following up her impressive performance as Wakanda’s top spy, Nakia, in Marvel’s Black Panther. She is in talks to play the assassin which was originally played by Chow Yun-fat. Woo will be directing and Universal is fast-tracking the film.
Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken (10 Cloverfield Lane) wrote the original script for the remake and Eran Creevy (Collide) rewrote it. Woo will produce alongside eOne’s Mark Gordon and Lori Tilkin. Josh Vlay Philips is overseeing the project with Tilkin for eOne and Sara Scott will oversee for Universal.
Production is expected to take place later this year in France and Germany.
Source: Deadline.