Variety reports that director Dennis Iliadis, who helmed the remake of LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, has signed to help PAY THE GHOST, a supernatural thriller about a young boy who is abducted on Halloween night. A year later, his parents sense his presence, prompting a search that leads them to “uncover ancient secrets and discover a vicious, vengeful spirit.”
The script is by Dan Kay, from a short story by Tim Lebbon. The production company is Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, which previously did UNITED 93 and SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK.
If this report from Bloody-Disgusting.com is to be believed, Iliadis is becoming a busy director: the anonymously sourced piece claims that Iliadis will be directing JEKYLL for Universal Pictures. A modern updating of the classic Robert Louise Stevenson’s tale, the script is by Justin Haythe (REVOLUTIONARY ROAD), with Keanu Reeves slated to play the lead. The project was previously mentioned in Hollywood Reporter nearly a year ago, when Nicolas Refn was negotiating to direct.
It is not impossible for a director to have two projects in development, but Variety reports PAY THE GHOST as a done deal. Neither Variety nor Hollywood Reporter has any recent news about the JEKYLL project.