It's been a weird old road for John Woo's plan to remake The Killer. Long in development, it has been through different versions across the years, most recently with Woo himself back to direct and Lupita Nyong'o starring. That iteration isn't happening, but the reboot itself is still alive, with Woo attached, taking aim at streaming service Peacock.
Woo's movie – which starred Chow Yun-Fat as a Hong Kong hitman who accidentally blinds an innocent woman during a hit and becomes determined to get her the medical treatment she needs while also completing one last job – was the director's bullet-flinging calling card for his later Hollywood career and became hugely influential.
While we're still not really convinced the world needs a new version, Woo's involvement at least gives some confidence. Woo is currently filming revenge thriller Silent Night, which stars Joel Kinnaman and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
This is all part of Universal's push to have more original films debuting on Peacock, including Shooting Stars, which charts basketball legend LeBron James' origin story and Praise This, starring Chloe Bailey as the newest member of a community’s church choir who pushes her members in a hipper musical direction – but one that might put her own career at risk.
"We know people join Peacock to watch movies, so we are constantly adding more to serve fans," says Peacock's Kelly Campbell. “Together with the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, we are excited to deliver fresh, exclusive, original films next year to our customers in addition to the legendary Universal Pictures blockbuster films and beloved franchises streaming now."