Filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn has been working on a remake of the 1988 serial killer thriller "Maniac Cop" for a long time. After a decade-long wait, the man behind "Drive", "Bronson" and "Pusher" trilogy is finally putting the wheels in motion, with full financial support from streaming platform Mubi, alongside co-producing partner Goodfellas. Refn is also a producer through his byNWR Originals.
Filming is expected to commence in Los Angeles in January 2027. Cast and crew details have not been revealed.
As per Variety, the idea is to go for a wide theatrical release across countries, with the sales in other countries being managed by the firm Veterans. Christina Erritzøe and Kimberly Willming are executive producers for the company, while Vincent Maraval is executive producer for Goodfellas.
Mubi will distribute the movie in North America, Latin America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, and other regions.
The original "Maniac Cop", directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen, follows a killer dressed as a police officer murdering people across New York City. No spoilers, but there's a reason for the murders — a dark, terrible past that has something to do with the establishment itself. The film became popular as a cult classic and later inspired two sequels.
In his statement to Variety, Refn said, “The concept has always appealed to me. In today’s political and social climate, the iconography of ‘Maniac Cop’ alone provokes an immediate, uneasy reaction. I’ve been watching it all unfold while constructing this project in the shadows… waiting. Now, that moment has finally arrived. The time has come to unveil a radical new vision where there is no protection, no safety net, only mayhem…”
Mubi founder and CEO Efe Cakarel said, “‘Maniac Cop’ in Nicolas’s hands is not a remake. It is a resurrection.”
Meanwhile, Refn's latest release, "Her Private Hell", had its world premiere out of competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2026, where it received a polarising reception and a 12-minute standing ovation.
The film, which marks Refn's return to feature-length filmmaking after a ten-year hiatus, is a psychedelic sci-fi horror thriller marked by his signature style of "glitter, sex, and violence." Refn co-wrote it with screenwriter Esti Giordani.