The Los Angelesarm of Korean production powerhouse MK Pictures has struck a deal withOscar-winning writer and producer David Franzoni to remake Korean blockbuster JointSecurity Area (JSA).

The project isset to mark the directorial debut of Franzoni who wrote and produced RidleyScott's Gladiator andalso wrote King Arthurand Steven Spielberg's Amistad. He's also moving the setting of the film - a murder-mystery set on theborder between North and South Korea - to the border between Mexico and the US.

According to PaulYi, managing director of MKB LA, the deal could approach seven figuresdepending on the final budget of the remake.

"Beyond thefinancials, it was more important for my partners and I to make sure the remakeof one of our most important films strove for as much high quality as theoriginal," said Yi.

Directed by Oldboy director Park Chan-wook, JSA grossed $35m when it was released inKorea in 2000 and went on to take a further $15m in Japan. It was produced byLee Eun's Myung Films, which merged with another leading production house, KangJe Gyu Films, to form MK Pictures last year.

Lee Eun and PaulYi are expected to serve as executive producers of the remake. The deal wasnegotiated by Yi, Franzoni and his lawyer Linda Lichter with CAA representingFranzoni.