James Wan says The Last Train to New York 'still a passion project,' reveals connection to original (exclusive)

The Last Train to New York, the American remake of South Korea's zombie horror hit Train to Busan, has been slow moving, especially after Warner Bros. removed the planned film from its release calendar entirely. However, James Wan, a producer on the project through company Atomic Monster, tells Entertainment Weekly, "That's definitely still a passion project of ours."

If it ever comes to pass, Wan confirms it's not actually a remake, but more of a spinoff set at the exact same time as the original film.

"Creatively, it takes place in the same world as Train to Busan," the filmmaker explains. "It's happening epidemically around the world. So if Train to Busan is this particular slice of the story in South Korea, we want Train to New York to be the one set in America. Everything about it is really exciting. I hope that could get off the ground eventually. Got to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure where it sits right now."

Train to Busan debuted in 2016 from director Yeon Sang-ho and screenwriter Park Joo-suk. Actor Gong Yoo, now known internationally for his slap-happy character on Squid Game, played Seok-woo, who accompanies his estranged daughter on a train to Busan to visit his ex-wife when one ill passenger sparks a zombie outbreak on board. The film also featured Ma Dong-seok, now known abroad for Marvel's Eternals.

Gaumont acquired the English-language remake rights in 2016. Two years later, New Line Cinema, Coin Operated, and Wan's Atomic Monster came aboard as producers, and Warner Bros. planned to distribute worldwide. There were early plans to release the project as The Last Train to New York in April 2023, with Timo Tjahjanto (Nobody 2) in talks to direct and Gary Dauberman (Salem's Lot) adapting the screenplay.

Warner Bros. then removed the film from the studio calendar in 2022, replacing the date with Evil Dead Rise.

“Well, you know, the f---ing movie’s amazing, right?” Dauberman previously told EW in 2019. “So, I’m being very careful how we translate it over here. And really my rule is, Don’t f--- it up! Because there’s not a lot of places in the [original film] where you go, Oh, well, they did that completely wrong. I just don’t want to f--- it up, and I want to be respectful of a movie that I very, very much love. So, that’s something that I’ve been excited to be working on.”

As of right now, Wan remains vague on what he's working on next.

"I'm developing two or three projects right now and for me to direct eventually," he says. "So some of them are still too early to even talk about, but I'm definitely cooking away at things and just taking the time right now to cook away on them. I think it's important to have the luxury and the time to focus on the script and get things right before I dive into anything."