Matt Reeves To Adapt Vampire Novel THE PASSAGE

Having directed the vampire horror Let The Right One In, helmer Matt Reeves is intending to stay close to the genre - Deadline reporting that he has now been set to work on adaptation of Justin Cronin's novel The Passage at Fox 2000. The book (described as being closer to epic global feel of Stephen King's The Stand) centers on a failed science experiment on patients cured by bat-bites in South America births a swarm of bloodthirsty, almost indestructible and telepathic vampires intent on bringing about an apocalypse. Fox 2000 bought the rights to the novel four years ago for $3 million and the legendary Ridley Scott had previously been attached to direct but he only helms about 2% of what he signs on to make every year and has since moved on. John Logan had scripted that adaptation but Reeves himself will be overseeing a new re-write. It's still being produced by Ridley's production outlet Scott Free. Last week Reeves attached himself to an adaptation he himself pitched for a new take on 8 O'Clock In The Morning, a Ray Nelson short story already adapted by John Carpenter into the late 80's horror They Live. It's unsure right now which film will be his next but as this one has the groundwork of a script in place, it's likely to go first (Reeves will be writing 8 O'Clock In The Morning himself).