John Wick director Chad Stahelski to remake Lakshya starrer Kill

As the original 'Kill' prepares for its premiere, the buzz surrounding its international partnership signifies a growing trend of cross-cultural collaborations in the film industry.

Chad Stahelski, the acclaimed director of 'John Wick,' along with his production company 87Eleven Entertainment, is set to produce an English-language adaptation of the Indian action film 'Kill' for Lionsgate.

This announcement precedes the release of the original 'Kill,' a Hindi-language film directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, which is scheduled to hit theatres on July 4. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have highlighted that this upcoming release marks a significant collaboration, being one of the initial instances where a mainstream Hindi-language film partners with a Hollywood studio for a theatrical debut in both North America and the U.K.

Also read: Kill review: A blood-soaked, gory train ride makes for a gripping, edge-of-the-seat action thriller

“’Kill’ is one of the most vivid, wild, and creative action movies I’ve seen recently. Nikhil delivers relentless action sequences that need to be seen by as wide an audience as possible. It’s exciting to be developing an English-language version — we have big shoes to fill and I’m looking forward to working with Nikhil, Karan, Apoorva, Guneet, and Achin to achieve that,” Stahelski said.

The narrative of 'Kill' follows army commando Amrit, portrayed by Lakshya, as he discovers that his beloved, Tulika (played by Tanya Maniktala), is being forced into an unwanted engagement. Determined to thwart the arranged marriage and reunite with Tulika, Amrit boards a train bound for New Delhi. However, his mission takes an unexpected turn when a group of knife-wielding thieves begins to terrorise the passengers. Confronted with this threat, Amrit takes it upon himself to protect the innocent travellers and confront the menacing gang.

The collaboration for the English-language remake aims to bring the intense and action-packed storyline to a wider audience, blending the gripping elements of the original with a new cultural perspective. Stahelski’s involvement ensures that the adaptation will retain the high-octane action sequences and emotional depth that the 'John Wick' franchise is known for, promising a thrilling cinematic experience for both existing fans and newcomers.

As the original 'Kill' prepares for its premiere, the buzz surrounding its international partnership signifies a growing trend of cross-cultural collaborations in the film industry. This venture not only broadens the reach of Hindi-language cinema but also opens up opportunities for more such collaborations in the future, enriching the global cinematic landscape with diverse stories and innovative filmmaking techniques.