We broke the news yesterday that GRACE writer/director Paul Solet (pictured) has taken the helm of ZERO DARK THIRTY, the long-in-development remake of Bob Clark’s DEATHDREAM scripted by THE GRUDGE’s Stephen Susco. Today, Solet got in touch to share his thoughts on the project.

“I’m absolutely thrilled about [being part of] ZERO DARK THIRTY,” Solet tells Fango. “I remember hearing about the project from [original director] Eli Roth years ago, and being so disappointed when it didn’t pan out, so when Susco approached me after a GRACE screening and told me he had a script that would be perfect for me, I secretly hoped he was talking about his DEATHDREAM remake. I’m a huge fan of the original film. When people tell me they haven’t seen it, I literally buy it for them. In fact, Bob came to the set of the GRACE short and signed a copy of the DVD for me, which has resided proudly on my mantle ever since.

“I’m always wary when I hear something I love is being remade,” he continues, “but when I saw what Stephen had done with his script, any shred of doubt I had was blown apart. Stephen is simply one of the best genre writers in the business, and he has put his heart and soul into this project, so the result is a staggeringly beautiful, utterly haunting tale. As we’ve worked together over the previous months alongside the Further Films team, the screenplay has evolved even more. It is a breathtakingly horrifying script. The fact that Michael Douglas is producing should give you a sense of the creative standards here, as well as the passion that has gone into the project from every member of the team. This is not a job for us. The creative unit is composed of a group of people who are simply not wired for half-measures, and we are all in love with this story.”

Further and the ZERO DARK THIRTY team are currently seeking a production partner to back the film, and Solet adds, “We’ve been meticulous in our search for the right home for the project to make sure our collaborators appreciate the standards we are upholding, because we will not rest until we have brought Andy home in the style he deserves.” Stay tuned for further updates!

 

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