Focus Features is officially producing an Audition remake of the 1999 Japanese horror thriller movie, which was originally based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Ryū Murakami. At the moment, the project has no official cast or target release date.

Who is involved in the Audition remake?

Following the critical success of Speak No Evil, director Christian Tafdrup has signed on to helm the English remake of Audition, which he is also co-writing with brother Mads Tafdrup. This marks Christian Tafdrup’s latest English directorial project after the 2022 James McAvoy-led Speak No Evil, which earned a Certified Fresh rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Danish filmmaker is also currently attached to direct Sebastian Stan and Lily James in the horror thriller movie Let the Evil Go West.

The remake will be produced by Ashok Amritraj, Priya Amritrajmm, and Mario Kassar. It is executive produced by Murakami, Chris McGurk, Yolanda Macias, and Joyce Jun. Besides Focus Features, the project is a production by Hyde Park Entertainment, Mario Kassar Productions, and Cineverse.

The original movie centered around a widower who stages a fake casting audition in the hopes of finding his next wife. He instantly becomes interested in a young, aspiring actress, who wanted to become a ballet dancer. However, he slowly discovers the woman’s dark and complicated past, leading him to get trapped in a relationship with a mentally unstable and unpredictable partner. The 1999 adaptation was directed by Cannes Palme d’Or nominee Takashi Miike. It starred The Grudge actor Ryo Ishibashi, Tokyo Gore Police star Eihi Shiina, and The Wailing star Jun Kunimura.

(Source: Deadline)