Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is one of the most acclaimed films of 2019 and some believe it could become a surprise Best Picture winner at this year’s Oscars ceremony. The film has broken down many barriers by becoming a rare foreign-language film that has managed to find an American audience. Given all the success of the film, it shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that a limited series of Parasite is in the works at HBO.
News of this television take on the twisty thriller was met with a mixed response. While the brilliance of the movie certainly makes any continuation intriguing, there are many that see the film as too perfect to tamper with. Here are some reasons why the Parasite series is a good idea and some the movie should be left alone.
Good Idea: Bong Joon-ho
One of the best aspects of Parasite’s massive success is that it is introducing the world to the brilliance of filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. Though he has received plenty of acclaim and attention thanks to his other phenomenal films, the success of Parasite shown that he is one of the best filmmakers working today.
The fact that Bong Joon-ho has signed off on this project and will be an active part of its development should allow people to breathe a big sigh of relief. He has created so many amazing films that any project he thinks is worthwhile should immediately be of interest.
Bad Idea: Adam McKay
While Bong Joon-ho’s involvement has eased some minds, the involvement of Adam McKay has given others more reason to be nervous. McKay has made some of the most beloved comedies such as Anchorman and Step Brothers, but has now ventured into more dramatic filmmaking.
While his films The Big Short and Vice have been Oscar-nominated, they have their fair share of critics. Many have pointed out that McKay’s unsubtle storytelling doesn’t seem like a good match for this story or Joon-ho’s unique voice. However, McKay could prove his critics wrong. Currently, he serves as executive producer for HBO’s prestige drama, Succession.
Good Idea: Limited Series
The limited series is a concept that has really emerged in this “Golden Age” of television. More expansive stories can be told without having to commit to multiple seasons. The story can end before the good ideas run out. We’ve seen Watchmen take this approach, and Parasite could follow a similar path.
Having a clear story that they want to tell over the course of a handful of episodes could be a satisfying continuation. Without having to stretch the ideas too far, a complex and worthwhile story could be told that enriches the film.
Bad Idea: Americanized
After winning Best Foreign-Language film at the Golden Globes, Bong Joon-ho said in his acceptance speech that there are so many wonderful stories you can find once you overcome subtitles. Unfortunately, Hollywood has a tendency of finding any popular foreign film and just remaking it with Hollywood stars.
There are some who fear this will be the fate of Parasite. The idea that a movie with such an amazing cast of Korean actors will be replaced by more recognizable stars speaking English is hard to take. Hopefully, this is not the case.
Good Idea: Endless Possibilities
Little is known about how the show will continue the film’s story, but when you think of all the directions the story could take, the possibilities are endless. The show could take some of the themes of the story and tell a completely new story. It could focus on certain aspects that were less important in the film. It could even be other characters’ reactions to the aftermath of the film. As self-contained as the story was, there’s a lot of interesting places it could still go.
Bad Idea: Remake
Certainly, the least interesting avenue the series could take is a remake of the story presented in the film. Bong Joon-ho has stated that it will be an expansion of the story rather than a remake, but he also did make it sound like it would be a more in-depth look at the same story.
It’s not surprising that Joon-ho would have more to add to this narrative as it is such a complex idea. However, seeing him tell the same story again seems like such a waste of one of our greatest storytellers.
Good Idea: Film’s Acclaim
With the film being hailed by so many as the best film of 2019, it is becoming one of the most talked-about films of the year. Not only is it exciting to see an original film get so much attention, but also one from another country. Continuing the story might feel like a crass Hollywood move, but it could actually help us see more movies like this.
If a Korean film can be hailed as the best of the year, be nominated for Best Picture, become a box office success and get a television show, studios might be more willing to roll the dice on some interesting international talents.
Bad Idea: Too Much Context
Part of the risk of revisiting movies like this is adding unnecessary context to an already great story. For Parasite, the film liked keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, giving them information gradually but never revealing too much.
The ending is a perfect example of this. It concluded in such a compelling way without feeding the audience too much information and allowing them to continue the story in their own head. The series might feel the need to fill in the blanks and thus take away from the enjoyment of the movie.
Good Idea: Timely Themes
Bong Joon-ho seems to be very interested in exploring the ideas of class divisions and inequality. These are universal themes for many audiences and would certainly resonate with American audiences today.
What makes Parasite such a compelling movie is that it tackles these themes in ways no other film would think of. It is darkly comedic and yet poignant throughout. If the series sticks to exploring these complex and important themes with the same wild mind as Joon-ho, it could be a powerhouse.
Bad Idea: Too Unique
Before Parasite, Bong Joon-ho was probably best known to American audiences for Snowpiercer. That was his first American film and it proved to be a modest success. And like Parasite, it was made into a television series.
However, the Snowpiercer show has had a long and somewhat disastrous journey to reaching television screens. In fact, it still hasn’t aired despite filming and reshooting having wrapped long ago. While there are many behind-the-scenes problems to blame, some have suggested Joon-ho’s stories just don’t work in someone else’s hands. Despite his involvement in the Parasite series, Joon-ho won’t be in control and it’s unlikely his voice will be duplicated.
