Samuel L. Jackson Signs On For Spike Lee’s ‘Oldboy’ Remake

Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee have worked together numerous times in the past, so it only makes sense that the Malcolm X director would tap his old friend for the remake of the South Korean thriller Oldboy. According to Cinema Blend, Jackson has signed on to play an unspecified character in the upcoming feature.

Although there’s nothing official about the role floating around the web as of this writing, The Los Angeles Times has it on good authority that Jackson will play a small but important role in the film. This anonymous source claims this villainous character will be tortured by the film’s hero, portrayed by Josh Brolin. If you’re at all familiar with the original film, figuring out Jackson’s part is pretty easy.

In a separate but equally cool announcement, musician Bruce Hornsby will provide the score to Lee’s latest joint. Just recently, the Mandolin Rain singer provided music for Lee’s Red Hook Summer, which opened in limited release here in the US on August 17.

During a recent interview with the Times, Hornsby explained that his work on the Oldboy remake is underway:

“I’m working on a few things and I’ll send them to Spike soon,” he explained. “The ‘D’ word has been spoken to me by him. But I think the score will also run the gamut.”

South Korean director Chan-wook Park’s 2003 thriller Oldboy is considered by many to be a modern masterpiece of revenge cinema. Powered by a strong performance from star Min-sik Choi, it’s dark, bloody, and, at times, completely disturbing.

IMDb provides the following synopsis:

“An average man is kidnapped and imprisoned in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. He then is released, equipped with money, a cellphone and expensive clothes. As he strives to explain his imprisonment and get his revenge, Oh Dae-Su soon finds out that his kidnapper has a greater plan for him and is set onto a path of pain and suffering in an attempt to uncover the motive of his mysterious tormentor.”

In addition to Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Brolin, Spike Lee’s Oldboy is rumored to star Sharlto Copley (District 9, The A-Team) and Elizabeth Olsen.