I’ll be honest: I’m not totally sure why this movie is happening.

Don’t get me wrong. Luc Besson has been a major love of mine since I was nine and seeing The Fifth Element for the first time (and the eighty since). But this is remake of a movie that Besson was involved with the first time. It even stars one of the original leads (David Belle). Admittedly, I’m not sure you could do a remake of Banlieue 13 without Belle, since he created the sport that pervades the film.

Ah well. I’m sure it’s going to be awesome. I do love me some Besson.

Besson actually co-wrote the original film, and he co-wrote this version as well, renaming it Brick Mansions. The story goes that a superweapon has been stolen by a drug dealer and taken down to the ghetto, the Brick Mansions (or District 13 in the original.) Walker would be playing a detective sent after the dealers; he enlists the help of an agile Lino (played by Belle) who has no fear of the dealers and knows his way around the Brick Mansions.

The original was directed by Pierre Morel, who went on to work with Besson in Taken and From Paris with Love. Besson isn’t directing this one, contrary to popular belief. He’s passing the job to one of his proteges, but Europa Corp (Besson’s production company) is keeping his identity under wraps.

Other casting decisions are not yet confirmed, but we’ll keep you posted.