Nithilan Swaminathan’s 2024 Tamil thriller Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, is set to receive a Hollywood remake, with an A-list actor being considered for the lead.
Producer Sudhan Sundaram confirmed the development to The Times of India, saying the makers were approached by a Hollywood agency for the remake rights after the film performed strongly in China, where it reportedly grossed ₹91.65 crore theatrically and also found an audience on streaming platforms. The agency is now developing the English-language version, with production likely to begin next year.
There has been speculation on social media that Matthew McConaughey could play the role originally portrayed by Sethupathi. Sundaram, however, said the actor has not been confirmed. “Maybe McConaughey is one of the stars they are talking to,” he told The Times of India, adding that the agency would announce the cast and studio.
Maharaja follows a barber who approaches the police to report the theft of a seemingly ordinary household object. The film gradually reveals the much darker circumstances behind his complaint through a non-linear narrative.
The film, which also stars Anurag Kashyap, Sachana Namidass and Mamta Mohandas, was released in June 2024 and became one of the year's highest-grossing Tamil films. According to trade tracker Sacnilk, it earned ₹72.43 crore net in India and ₹199.20 crore worldwide.
The Hollywood adaptation would make Maharaja the first Tamil film to receive an official Hollywood remake, according to reports. The producers have also confirmed the development publicly.
A separate Hindi remake is also in development, with Aamir Khan having acquired the remake rights, according to earlier reports. Details of both adaptations, including casting and release dates, remain to be announced.
