Netflix and Josh Friedman to bring Korean feature film ‘Snowpiercer’ to TV

A comeback of the Sci-fi film “Snowpiercer” is reportedly on the way as Netflix and screenwriter Josh Friedman are planning a television adaptation of the flick. Released in 2013, the Korean feature film “Snowpiercer” was based on Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette’s French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige.”

The film starred Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt and Ed Harris. The plot is based on the post-apocalyptic ice age that forces humanity's last survivors to board a train powered by a perpetual motion engine, but this attempt eventually turned out to be a disaster.

Tomorrow Studios, which is a partnership between Adelstein and ITV Studios, has optioned the rights of this film, according to Entertainment Weekly. The website states that Josh Friedman will write the TV adaptation of the flick, while, Bong, Dooho Choi, Marty Adelstein, and Becky Clements will be the executive producers of the film.

The film became a huge hit and received a massive opening in several parts of the world. It raked in US$86.7 million (AU$121.65 million) worldwide and became the tenth highest-grossing domestic film in South Korea in April 2014. “Snowpiercer” also holds the record for raking in the highest weekend figure (from Friday to Sunday) for a Korean film. The movie also became a huge hit on VOD and even garnered critical acclaim.

"We are very excited to be working with Josh on this incredible story. As such a prolific and innovative writer he is the ideal person to create a massive new world in this adaptation. This is an expansive, high-concept project and we are thrilled to be a part of reimagining it for television," The Hollywood Reporter quoted Adelstein.

Adelstein has produced several television series including, “Prison Break,” “Last Man Standing” and “Aquarius.” He is currently executive producing the MTV series “Teen Wolf” alongside Jeff Davis and Rene Echevarria.

Friedman confessed that he is a huge fan of Bong’s films and termed the movie as – “thoughtful, political, funny, scary, and sly.”

Watch theatrical trailer for “Snowpiercer” here: