Spike Lee’s most notable films have featured eye-opening social commentary involving race and black life. As a result, Lee is often pigeonholed by Hollywood studios and producers who rarely call him to direct big-budget films. Lee recently admitted that a sequel to Inside Man, his highest grossing film, would not be made because he couldn’t find funding in Hollywood.
But Lee will get another chance to direct a film that will allow him to prove that he’s able to direct a diverse cast. Mandate Pictures recently signed Lee to direct a remake of Chan-Wook Park’s 2003 thriller, Oldboy.
The film centers around a South Korean man who spends 15 years in a makeshift prison after being kidnapped. Once he’s released, he searches for answers and attempts to find those who are responsible for his captivity.
The film appears to be a strange pairing, but Lee did an adequate job in directing other diverse films such as Summer of Sam, 25th Hour and Inside Man.
Lee’s success, or failure, with Oldboy could determine if more black directors are given a chance to work on big-budget films with diverse casts. Hollywood’s neglect of black talent is almost as bad as it was during the Jim Crow era. It’s unfortunate that one black director could hold the key to more blacks getting an opportunity in the future.
Oldboy is currently in the pre-production stage. –amir shaw
