Actor Chow Yun Fat at the 28th Busan International Film Festival (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – The renowned Hong Kong noir film, ‘A Better Tomorrow 2,’ starring Zhang Guorong and Chow Yun Fat, is set to be remade as an animated movie in South Korea.
According to industry reports on Tuesday, the animation studio Meditation with a Pencil has inked a contract with Hong Kong’s Fortune Star Entertainment to acquire the publication rights for the animated adaptation of ‘A Better Tomorrow 2.’
This marks the first instance of a Hong Kong film being remade as a Korean animated movie. Meditation with a Pencil aims to complete the remake within the next year, with a scheduled release in 2025. While the plan is to release the animated version in theaters, the possibility of an Over-The-Top (OTT) channel release has not been ruled out.
The animated version will be directed by Ahn Jae-hoon. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The animated version will be directed by Ahn Jae-hoon, known for creating emotionally resonant animated videos such as ‘Munyeo Island,’ ‘Shower,’ ‘Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,’ and ‘Sorry, I Love You.’
‘Munyeo Island’ notably received the Special Jury Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, often referred to as the Cannes Film Festival of the animation industry.
‘A Better Tomorrow 2,’ directed by John Woo, portrays the camaraderie and loyalty among men in the backdrop of the dark world of a criminal organization, enjoying sensational popularity in Korea. The production team emphasized that ‘A Better Tomorrow 2′ is more suitable for animation adaptation compared to ‘A Better Tomorrow 1′ due to its dramatic elements.
‘A Better Tomorrow 2,’ directed by John Woo. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Ahn remarked, “John Woo’s direction exudes a strong animation vibe. Adapting his film into an animated format could offer a fresh experience to the audience.”
The production of Ahn’s new animated film, ‘Agami’ (Gill), is in its final stages and is set to be released soon. Based on the novel of the same title by Gu Byeong-mo, the film narrates the story of a boy who develops gills on the verge of death.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
