John Woo’s The Killer is often considered his best film. The age-old story of a criminal killer seeking redemption through an act of violence driven by remorse and kindness was given a classic polish by Hong Kong cinema.
The original starred Chow Yun-fat as a Hong Kong hitman and titular Killer. When he accidentally blinds a young nightclub singer during a shootout on what was to be his final job, he agrees to kill a high-ranking triad boss to pay for the operation to restore her sight.
As a police detective closes in on him, he prepares for what is now certainly his last hit.
So, of course, Hollywood got hold of it and decided to remake it. It is also current year, so of course the lead was gender-swapped. Now Peacock has premiered the trailer for this remake.
However, and this is where things get interesting, Woo himself is directing this remake. Not only that, but it has been written by Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential). So there is talent involved.
While those in the UK remember her as an actress from the soap opera Hollyoaks, those overseas are more familiar with Nathalie Emmanuel from Game of Thrones and Fast and Furious. Here she plays Zee, the infamous assassin known as the Queen of the Dead.
When she refuses an assignment by her handler (Sam Worthington) to kill a blinded young woman named Jenn (Diana Silvers), she loses her alliances and attracts the attention of police investigator Sy (Omar Sy).
The pair become caught up in a sinister criminal conspiracy that will set her on a collision course with her own past.
Ex-footballer Eric Cantona, Tchéky Karyo, and Grégory Montel co-star in The Killer.
Charles Roven and Alex Gartner produce The Killer which premieres on the streamer on August 23rd.