James Wan, the producer ofTrain to Busan’s spinoff,The Last Train to New York, has revealed how the film is connected to its predecessor. Released in 2016 at the Cannes Film Festival,the South Korean horror moviedebuted to critical and audience acclaim. Due to its domestic and international success, two films were added to theTrain to Busanfranchise.Seoul Station, the animated prequel, was released the same year as the original movie, whilePeninsula, which wasn’t as well-received as its predecessors, debuted in 2020.
Train to Busandoesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger since Su-an and Seong-kyeong make it to Busan. However, there’s always been interest in a continuation, which is why an American remake of the horror movie was set to be a new addition to the franchise. While speaking toEntertainment Weekly,Wan offered some details about the spinoff film andThe Last Train to New York’s production status.Check out his full comments below:
Creatively, it takes place in the same world as Train to Busan. 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.
What This Means For The Last Train To New York
The Last Train To New York Might Not Happen
A few months afterTrain to Busanwas released, Gaumont acquired the rights to an English-language iteration ofthe zombie horror film. Two years later,Timo Tjahjanto, known for his work onKillers,The Night Comes for UsandV/H/S/2,was in talks to direct the movie. Warner Bros. and Gaumont set July 13, 2025, as the release date forThe Last Train to New York. However, the zombie movie was removed from Warner Bros' release schedule and replaced withEvil Dead Rise.
It’s been nearly nine years since the American remake ofTrain to Busanwas announced, andthere have been no updates about the status of the film regarding its cast, plot, or release date since the time Warner Bros. removed the spinoff from its roster. Given the lukewarm reception thatPeninsulareceived, it wouldn’t be surprising if Warner Bros. Studios isn’t going ahead withThe Last Train to New York,even if it is set in the same world asTrain to Busan.As the years go on, audiences who were excited about watching the movie may no longer be interested in giving it a chance.
Our Take On The Last Train To New York’s Status
While the idea ofThe Last Train to New Yorkis fun, there’s simply no need for an American remake ofTrain to Busan. This is especially true because the spinoff to the zombie movie isn’t really adding anything new to the story, even if it is theoretically connected by its setting. According to the premise that was revealed,The Last Train to New Yorkis simply telling the same story as the original movie, with the only difference being its setting.
Train to Busanis one of the best horror films of the past 20 years, and it would be difficult to make a film that has a similar story but is better. So, it might be a good thing ifThe Last Train to New Yorknever sees the light of day, more so because remakes rarely surpass the original.
Source:Entertainment Weekly
The Last Train to New York
The Last Train to New York is an English-language remake of the South Korean zombie film Train to Busan. Released in 2023, this film translates the intense survival scenario to a new setting, as passengers aboard a train must defend themselves against a sudden zombie outbreak while traveling to New York City.
Train to Busan
Cast
Train to Busan is a South Korean action-horror film released in 2016. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, it centers on passengers aboard an express train from Seoul to Busan during a sudden zombie outbreak. As the virus spreads, the survivors must navigate the chaotic and dangerous environment to reach safety.
