Warner Bros. Discovery has recently inked a significant first-look film deal in Asia with industry veteran Jack Nguyen. This collaboration, announced on Monday, is facilitated through Nguyen's startup production company, Joat Films, and will primarily focus on creating Asia-centric adaptations of Warner Bros' English-language movie catalog.
The initial project to emerge from this partnership will be a Korean remake of the well-received 2015 comedy-drama, The Intern.
Jack Nguyen boasts an impressive 30-year tenure at Warner Bros., where he spearheaded local-language film initiatives, particularly in the Asia and Latin America regions. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Warner Bros.' market entries into key territories such as China, India, Japan, and Korea. During his time at the studio, Nguyen oversaw the production of successful Japanese films like Letters from Iwo Jima, the Rurouni Kenshin series, and Yurusarezaru Mono, a remake of Clint Eastwood's acclaimed movie Unforgiven.
In the Korean market, Warner Bros. achieved notable success with hits like The Age of Shadows, which was Korea's submission for the Oscars' best foreign language film category in 2017, as well as The Witch and other box office successes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Jack Nguyen will be responsible for presenting Asia-focused film concepts to Warner Bros., collaborating with local partners in various markets across the Asia-Pacific region, including Korea and India.
Kurt Rieder, the Senior Vice President and head of theatrical distribution in the Asia-Pacific region for Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed confidence in Nguyen's expertise, stating, 'Jack is an industry veteran with unparalleled knowledge of film production in Asia. There is a growing demand for localized adaptations of globally popular Hollywood narratives in the region, and we are eager to work with Jack to bring these stories to life through a fresh local perspective.'
Nguyen himself expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing his deep respect and loyalty to Warner Bros. after his extensive career with the studio. He expressed his enthusiasm for being entrusted with valuable intellectual property to produce top-tier local language remakes in collaboration with talented filmmakers from various countries. Nguyen also highlighted his commitment to discovering and promoting emerging filmmakers and projects that deserve recognition on a global scale, signaling his excitement for this new chapter alongside one of Hollywood's most esteemed studios.
