Rob Zombie to write, direct new 'Halloween'

Posted Monday, June 5, 2006 at 2:36 PM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Metal music artist turned horror film writer-director Rob Zombie has signed on with Dimension Films to create a new Halloween film. The original Halloween movie featuring slasher Michael Myers was done in 1978 by director John Carpenter.

Rest assured this new Michael Myers movie won't be another installment in tired series of Halloween sequels. As a post on Rob's official web site says of the project, "Call it what you will -- a remake, an update or whatever -- but one thing's for sure, it ain't a sequel."

"I have been a huge, huge fan of John Carpenter's original film since its release. So when [Dimension Films co-chair] Bob Weinstein approached me about this, I jumped at the chance to join forces on this amazing project," Zombie said in a statement.

Rob gave MTV.com a little more insight into the project. He said the film will be "a bit of a prequel and a remake, combined." It will be set between the events of Halloween and Halloween II. The focus will be on Myers' evolution into a serial killer.

He has also received a blessing from original director John Carpenter. Zombie told Variety of the conversation, "He said, 'Go for it, Rob. Make it your own.' And that's exactly what I intend to do."

The new film will be produced with the full cooperation of Trancas International Films, the makers of the original. It is scheduled for a October 2007 theatrical release.