Hilary Swank joins Carpenter’s ‘Fangland’

(AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE)

Horror director John Carpenter ( Halloween, The Thing, Escape From New York) is set to direct Fangland, an adaptation of John Marks' 2008 novel, with Hilary Swank in the starring role.

A modern version of Bram Stoker's original 'Dracula', the story follows a television news producer on an assignment in Transylvania to report on a reputed gangster. The novel has been called a Romanian 'Bright Lights, Big City' by the New York Times - with vampires.

Carpenter's last film was Ghosts of Mars in 2001. He will release The Ward with Amber Heard ( Zombieland) on September 24.

Oscar-winning Swank ( Million Dollar Baby) stars in Tony Goldwyn's Betty Anne Waters with Sam Rockwell ( Moon) about a woman who becomes a lawyer in order to represent her brother, wrongfully convicted of murder. She also co-stars in an upcoming thriller The Resident by Finnish director Antti Jokinen.

RC