Indonesia's 'Agak Laen' to Be Remade by 'Parasite' Producer in South Korea

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's second highest-grossing film Agak Laen is set to be remade in South Korea. Barunson E&A, the Korean production company behind the Oscar-winning Parasite, has signed a deal with Imajinari, the producer of Agak Laen, to adapt the film for Korean audiences.

Along with the remake of Agak Laen, Barunson also plans to remake Tinggal Meninggal and co-produce a sequel to Agak Laen.

The announcement was made by Imajinari founder Ernest Prakasa on his Instagram account on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

"If @pilem.agak.laen was made into a Hollywood version, who would be suitable as the cast?" wrote the comedian and director.

Reasons Behind the Remake

As quoted from Variety, Barunson’s acquisition of the Agak Laen remake rights signals its quick expansion beyond production, tapping into Southeast Asia’s fast-growing film market.

This partnership with Imajinari builds on the success of Ernest Prakasa and manager Dipa Andika through Hahaha Corp, which has emerged as one of Indonesia’s most dynamic film production companies.

In 2022, through the production of the debut film Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap, it successfully attracted 2.8 million viewers and became the fourth highest-grossing local film in Indonesia that year.

"Our philosophy has always been to tell original stories in surprising ways that engage the audience," said Ernest.

"It's exciting to collaborate with Barunson E&A and see how our creativity can be reimagined through remakes worldwide.

Variety also wrote that the film Agak Laen 2 by Muhadkly Acho will be released in Indonesian cinemas in the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile, Tinggal Meninggal will be released in August 2025.

Tinggal Meninggal is a dark comedy film that tells the story of Gema, a lonely man who lies to attract the attention of his co-workers but the reality becomes even more complicated.

"With Imajinari, we see a studio that excels at telling deeply relatable stories – about family, love, and human connection – but with fresh and entertaining perspectives," said Choi Yoon Hee, CEO of Barunson E&A.

"We’re excited to introduce their unique IPs to global audiences and share creative voices that deserve wider recognition," she added.

In addition to remaking Indonesian films, it turns out that Barunson E&A has participated in several productions in Indonesia. These include, 13 Bom di Jakarta, Respati, and the musical film Rangga & Cinta.

Agak Laen stars comedians Boris Bokir, Indra Jegel, Bene Dion, and Oki Rengga. The film has become the second highest-grossing film in history with 9.1 million viewers.

The film, directed by comedian Muhadkly Acho, was also nominated for two categories at FFI 2024, Best Original Screenplay and Best Theme Song Creator. Unfortunately, neither of these categories was won.

Previously, Imajinari and Muhadkly Acho had success with works such as Gara-Gara Warisan, Ghost Writer, and Induk Gajah.

Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo contributed to this article.

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