'Night Owl' lands historic remake deal in China
"The Night Owl" is poised to be remade in China. Courtesy of NEW
A Chinese entertainment company has acquired the remake rights to the critically acclaimed period thriller "The Night Owl," which stars Ryu Jun-yeol and Yoo Hae-jin, according to the film's distributor NEW.
The finalized contract for the Chinese remake rights of the movie represents the highest price ever paid for a Korean movie remake in China. The agreement also underscores the robust global demand for Korean intellectual property (IP) and reflects NEW's strategic effort to enhance the value of its IP portfolio.
Set during the Joseon period (1392-1910), the movie follows Kyeong-soo (played by Ryu), an acupuncturist who unexpectedly becomes a witness to the death of the crown prince. Yoo portrays the king, determined to uncover the truth behind his son's demise, and forms an unlikely alliance with Kyeong-soo.
According to the Korean Film Council, the export amount for Korean movie remake rights last year reached about $3.8 million, the highest since 2017.
NEW, through its subsidiary Content Panda, has already seen international success with remakes of "Miracle in Cell No. 7" and "Train to Busan," and is currently discussing a joint production of the Japanese version of "Hide and Seek."
Lee Jung-ha, director of overseas sales at Content Panda, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, and said, "This is an achievement that recognizes the power of a successful IP that combines historical drama and thriller elements. We are looking forward to the results of the localization process based on the key settings of the original."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.