Netflix making English-language version of “Time to Hunt”

Netflix is remaking its Korean-language movie Time To Hunt, marking the first time the streamer has adapted one of its local-language movies into English, reports Deadline, which goes on to state that “the studio has come full circle, you might say”.

According to the report, Netflix has set director Adam Randall for the adaptation, having just worked with the Brit filmmaker on vampire comedy Night Teeth.

Time To Hunt, which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival last year, follows a group of young people who commit crimes to survive in a near-future Korea hit by financial crisis.

The well-received original was directed by Yoon Sung-hyun and features a cast of rising Korean actors including Lee Je-hoon, Ahn Jae-hong, Choi Woo-shik, Park Jeong-min and Park Hae-soo. Rhee Handae produced.

Randall, also known for 2019 horror I See You, told us: “I watched the movie early in lockdown and thought it was a really strong concept. It’s half heist, half chase movie, set in a near dystopia, so it combines three of my favourite cinematic genres. The version I’m working on is set in the U.S. with a different story but similar structure. From what I understand, this is the first time Netflix has optioned one of its own foreign-language movies. The option process was a little complicated but is now done.”

Netflix has yet to set a writer but was won over by a 150-page document Randall pitched them this summer.

The project marks the director’s third collaboration with the streamer after iBoy and Night Teeth, which was released last month. Randall described the studio as “incredibly supportive and collaborative.” The director has been told he will get to see viewing data for Night Teeth, something the streamer recently pledged to do with more of its filmmakers.

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