Nicolas Winding Refn is directing a new take on "Maniac Cop" with Mubi backing the project. The art house distributor provides full financing and commits to wide theatrical releases across multiple territories. Goodfellas co-produces while Veterans handles international sales.
Refn directs and produces through his byNWR Originals banner, with Christina Erritzøe and Kimberly Willming also producing. The deal marks a significant partnership between the polarizing Danish auteur and Mubi, the platform known for curating prestige cinema and international arthouse fare.
"Maniac Cop" exists as a cult property. The original 1988 slasher from William Lustig spawned sequels and maintains devoted genre fandom. Refn's iteration signals his interest in genre filmmaking after projects like "Drive" and "Only God Forgives," which subverted noir and crime conventions through his neon-soaked, violence-interrogating aesthetic.
Mubi's involvement speaks to how the distributor evolved beyond streaming platform into production financier and theatrical exhibitor. Recent moves include backing releases across indie multiplexes globally. This partnership positions "Maniac Cop" as a prestige genre exercise rather than straightforward remake, leveraging Refn's reputation and Mubi's theatrical infrastructure to reach art-house and genre audiences simultaneously.
Refn's filmography proves divisive. His work generates passionate defenders and fierce detractors in equal measure. "Drive" achieved commercial success and critical acclaim, becoming a touchstone for 2010s genre cinema. "Only God Forgives" alienated mainstream audiences despite its visual ambition. Casting and script details remain undisclosed, but a Refn-helmed "Maniac Cop" promises aesthetic experimentation applied to familiar material.
The project