Since the film adaptation of
Seth Grahame-Smith's horror/classical literature mash up
Pride & Prejudice & Zombieswas announced back in 2009, two directors have been attached -
David O'Russell (The Fighter) and
Mike White (writer of School of Rock, Orange County), only to drop out due to scheduling problems. O'Russell's attempt at the movie even had
Natalie Portman set to star. Doomed to development hell, you may think? Not so, the search for someone to take the hot seat continued, even the novel's writer Smith (who also wrote Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) considered taking the reins for a while, co-directing with
David Katzenberg, but
Deadline are reporting that the Lionsgate production is now resting in the hands of Lars and the Real Girl director
Craig Gillespie, a front runner since
he held talks in February. The studio has told all other aspirants to the directors chair that the race is over. As you probably can tell by the title, the film's premise sees Jane Austen's Classic novel told against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse and will make it two horror films on the bounce for Gillespie, who has recently finished up work on Dreamworks' summer's 3D remake of 80s horror
Fright Night (trailer soon please!) starring
Colin Farrell. So with that all seemingly sorted focus turns to the potential cast, for which there has been many rumours. With a wishlist of current young Hollywood female starlets as long as your arm, including a brief dalliance with a pre oscar Natalie Portman,
Scarlett Johannson and most recently
Anne Hathaway and
James McAvoy, no one is near confirmed yet, but watch this space.