PARK Chan-wook Eyes Adaptation of THE AX with Costa-Gavras as Producer

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PARK Chan-wook Eyes Adaptation of THE AX with Costa-Gavras as Producer

Oct 11, 2019

Writer by Pierce Conran
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Famed Korean Director Eyes English-Language Adaptation of Donald E. WESTLAKE’s Novel

Famed director PARK Chan-wook has revealed that he is preparing to make an English-language version of the 1997 novel ‘The Ax’ by Donald E. WESTLAKE, which was previously adapted in France by the French-Greek auteur Costa-Gavras in 2005. Director PARK explained his intentions during an open talk with Costa-Gavras which took place during the Busan International Film Festival this month.

Director PARK explained that he has been working closely with Costa-Gavras and his producer wife Michèle RAY, who own the filming rights to the novel and will serve as producers of PARK’s eventual adaptation, which has been in development for several years.

The story of ‘The Ax’ concerns a chemist with a family and a stable life who is suddenly made redundant and resolves to eliminate his competition as he navigates a difficult job market.

Known for Old Boy (2003) and The Handmaiden (2016), director PARK most recently helmed the BBC miniseries The Little Drummer Girl, an adaptation of the John LE CARRE novel of the same name starring Florence PUGH, Alexander SKARSGARD and Michael SHANNON.

Costa-Gavras is known for his classic political dramas, such as 1969’s Z, 1972’s State of Siege and his Hollywood masterpiece Missing with Sissy SPACEK and Jack LEMMON, released in 1982.

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