Clearly itching to step up his Western filmmaking experience after dipping his toes in the water with Stoker, respected South Korean director Park Chan-wook has lined up another potential project, signing on to make Corsica 72.
The period drama comes from the computer-quills of Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and has enjoyed an enviable route to the screen. It landed on both the Black List and the UK equivalent Brit List in 2009 and has attracted the likes of directors Oliver Hirschbiegel and Luca Guadagnino and potential stars Andrew Garfield and Gemma Arterton. But though none of the previous versions worked out, Chan-wook’s interest should be a welcome boost.
Corsica 72 is based on a true story and follows two best friends who grow up on the island. Their lives take very divergent paths when one becomes a gangster and the other hews to the straight and narrow – at least, until rivalry over a woman threatens their friendship.
Producer Adi Shankar seems particularly pleased with the new development: "Having spent the majority of my life in Southeast Asia I have been a fan of his my whole life," he tells Variety. "Where I'm from it doesn't get any better than Park Chan-wook."
Though Chan-wook also has **The Brigands Of Rattleborge on his cinematic To Do list, it sounds as though **Corsica **is in a position to shoot first, especially with the new director aboard and young stars scrambling to win the lead roles.