It’s happening, it’s finally happening! A captain has finally be found to take the heed of The Last Voyage of Demeter for Phoenix Pictures. Originally set to be helmed by Patrick Tatopoulos, we’ve been following this project since we saw a bunch of casting shots on the set of Underworld: Evolution back in 2005! As the movie never came into fruition, maybe the director of Friday the 13th will have better luck? Transylvania awaits!
Director Marcus Nispel (“Friday the 13th”) is in talks to board “The Last Voyage of Demeter” for Phoenix Pictures with Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer and Brad Fischer producing.

The story, penned by Bragi Schut Jr., is based on a chapter in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” describing the arrival of the vampire count in England on a cargo ship that has crashed into the rocks at Whitby with no crew and the dead captain lashed to the steering wheel. Stoker tells the story via the captain’s log of the voyage, which begins in Bulgaria and becomes increasingly disjointed as members of the crew disappear.

Chris Bender and JC Spink are exec producing. Robert Schwentke and Patrick Tatopoulos had previously been attached to direct.

Fischer told Daily Variety he’s aiming to begin production this year.

Phoenix is in post-production on the Martin Scorsese-directed Leonardo DiCaprio starrer “Shutter Island” for Paramount and “Shanghai” for the Weinstein Co. The banner recently announced it’s teamed with Robert Chartoff and helmer Roger Donaldson for a feature adaptation of Seymour Reit book “The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa.”