Spike Lee’s ‘Oldboy’ will hit theaters next October

Fans of “Oldboy” who are wondering how Spike Lee will tackle the South Korean cult hit won’t have to wait very long to find out: Lee’s English-language version of the movie will hit theaters in less than a year.

FilmDistrict, which is releasing the Josh Brolin-Sharlto Copley revenge drama, announced Friday that it will open the film on Oct 11, 2013. The movie will go wide, settling the question of whether Lee’s indie background would prompt a more limited release.

“Oldboy” will go up against a 3-D re-release of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.” among other still-to-be-dated films. Lee is shooting the movie in Louisiana.

The October date puts “Old Boy” in the heart of awards season and opens up the possibility that the movie could play fall film festivals such as Toronto and Venice.

Written by “I Am Legend” screenwriter Mark Protosevich, the new “Oldboy” examines an advertising executive (Brolin) who after being inexplicably held captive for years embarks on a mission to track down his captors.

Chan Wook-Park’s 2003 original was an art-house hit and won a top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Lee said he imagines his movie going even darker.

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