Edgar Wright to Direct Johnny Depp in the Big Screen Take of 'Night Stalker'

February 23, 2012 04:36:10 GMT

The 'Hot Fuzz' helmer has signed a deal with Walt Disney Pictures to direct Depp, who will play intrepid tabloid journalist Carl Kolchak, in the film adaptation of the 1970s ABC TV show.

's upcoming film "The Night Stalker (2014)" has finally found its director. Deadline reported that Walt Disney Pictures has picked "" helmer Edgar Wright to serve behind the lens for the film adaptation of the 1970s ABC TV show.

Wright, who also penned the script for Steven Spielberg's "", was tapped for the project before the studio hired a screenwriter. The filmmaker will oversee and shape the film along with Depp and the actor's Infinitum Nihil partner Christi Dembrowski.

Depp himself has been tapped to play the lead protagonist Carl Kolchak, an intrepid tabloid journalist who was originally made famous by Darren McGavin. Kolchak works for the crime section of the tabloid and his cases always lead him to encounter supernatural perpetrators such as zombies, vampires, werewolves and aliens.

"The Night Stalker" will be one of Depp and Dembrowski's two film projects that are developed at Disney. The other one is an untitled American Revolutionary War drama about the Midnight Ride made by Paul Revere to warn Colonial militia of the impending British invasion.

T! he 48-ye ar-old actor will next be seen in another supernatural film, "", which is directed by Tim Burton. He is also set to star in Gore Verbinski's long-gestating movie project "". As for director Wright, his next project is "", a movie adaptation of one of Marvel's superhero comics.

AceShowbiz.com