Universal Investing in Park Chan-wook’s Latest

If you’re a fan of Asian film, than you’ve more than likely seen ‘Oldboy’ or any other of director Park Chan-wook’s “revenge trilogy”, ‘Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance’ and ‘Lady Vengeance’.   The Korean filmmaker is currently hard at work on a vampire movie called ‘Thirst’, and he’s getting backing by Universal Studios among others, says this article from Variety.

This will be the first time that an American studio has backed a Korean film before the film’s local release.   Universal is teaming with Focus Pictures for the investment and will be behind the film’s distribution here in the states.

“‘Thirst’ is especially exciting for us, as it’s the first time a major studio has co-produced with a South Korean entertainment company in this way,” said UPI studio proxy, Christian Grass.   “Park Chan-wook is one of the most talented and influential Korean directors working today.   We’re really pleased to be partnering with CJ on this production.”

The film centers around a failed experiment that turns a priest into a member of the undead.   It is planned to be finished in time for festival scheduling in mid-2009.