The idea of remaking “Train to Busan” might scare film fans. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the original film, as it stands as one of the best zombie features of the past decade. The only reason to remake it, by Hollywood standards, is to make it English-language, which is enough to rile up purists that don’t think that’s a good enough cause. Well, James Wan is producing a new “Train to Busan” remake and he may convince you it’s a decent idea when you find out who he hired to direct the film.
According to Deadline, Timo Tjahjanto has been hired to helm the remake of “Train to Busan.” The film is inspired by the 2016 feature that tells the story of a, uh, train that is heading to Busan during a zombie outbreak. It takes all the tension of a well-made zombie feature and puts it in the confined spaces of a train. Upon its release, the original was deemed an instant classic and recently spawned a sequel, “Train to Busan: Peninsula,” which was released last year.
The reason why the hiring of Tjahjanto to helm the remake is exciting comes down to the fact that he’s one of the best young action filmmakers working today. The Indonesian filmmaker broke out with his action film “Headshot” and then followed it up with the incredible thriller, “The Night Comes for Us,” which is a must-see for anyone that enjoys quality action films like “The Raid.” His kinetic style is a breath of fresh air when you put it next to so much of the action output today.
So, is a “Train to Busan” remake necessary? Of course not. No remake is “necessary.” But can this one be good? Well, if Tjahjanto’s hiring is any indication, it’s clear that Wan’s production company is doing the best it can to make sure “Train to Busan” gets a quality redo. Let’s just hope it all works out for the best.
