No, that planned remake of The Raid still isn’t dead. In fact, it’s found new life at, where else? Netflix. The English-language attempt to recreate the greatest action flick ever has also cemented a director, Patrick Hughes, who star Frank Grillo has long wanted for the job.
According to Deadline, The Raid remake will have Hughes on board to direct, with original filmmaker Gareth Evans and Michael Bay producing. Hughes will also co-write the script with James Beaufort.
Hughes is no Evans, but he’s a solid action director known for both Hitman’s Bodyguard movies and The Expendables 3, by far the best chapter of that franchise. He’s got action-comedy The Man from Toronto coming up with Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart.
That said, he’s got gigantic shoes to fill. The Raid and its sequel aren’t just intense action flicks, they have a unique, chaotic visual style that I’ve not seen anyone match. Evans is a true visionary in that regard, but long ago decided he did not want to move forward with The Raid 3 despite cries of anguish from folks like me.
