A new press release was sent out for Hammer Films’ first 3-D project, The Woman in Black, a new adaptation of the classic ghost story to be directed by up-and-comer James Watkins (Eden Lake). The announcement added new plot details, along with the news that Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment (The Ring, The Grudge, The Strangers, Godzilla) would be executive producing. The Woman in Black follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps, who is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in the client’s isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover tragic secrets, and his unease grows when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass) is adapting the screenplay, based on Susan Hill’s best-selling novel. Production is expected to begin in the Fall of 2010.
“James Watkins has a huge fanbase from his award-winning suspense horror Eden Lake. Jane Goldman thrilled audiences worldwide with her script for Kick Ass, and Susan Hill’s extraordinarily chilling novel has won over readers everywhere,” says Simon Oakes.

Guy East continues, “Because of the tremendous pedigree of those involved, the interest in this project has been enormous for us from very early on and we are now thrilled to have Alliance onboard as a partner. The recent decision to shoot the film in 3D will create a genuinely immersive experience for the audience.”

Charles Layton said, “We are delighted to be co-financing this ambitious 3D Hammer project with Exclusive. It fits in perfectly with our intent to acquire important, commercial films, for our three territories. We feel that the subject matter will appeal equally in Spain as it will in the UK and Canada.”

Hill’s novel has become a modern classic, appearing on the national curriculum in the United Kingdom. The Woman in Black was also adapted into a stage play by Stephen Mallatratt, first performed at the Theatre-By-The-Sea in Scarborough, UK in 1987. It moved to the Fortune Theatre in London’s West End in 1989, where it still successfully runs today, over twenty years later, and has been performed the world over.

Exclusive is currently in post-production on three films: Matt Reeves’ Let Me In starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Elias Koteas and Richard Jenkins (produced through its Hammer Films label, Overture Films will release the film in October 2010); Antti Jokinen’s The Resident starring Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lee Pace and Christopher Lee (produced through Hammer Films); and Peter Weir’s The Way Back starring Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong and Colin Farrell. The company recently premiered Spitfire Pictures’ The Last Play at Shea, about Billy Joel and his last performance at Shea Stadium, at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.