Dracula ready for close-up

Anderson to adapt, helm 'Castlevania'

By MICHAEL SPEIER

'Castlevania'

Steven Paul's Crystal Sky Pictures has bought the rights to long-running Konami vidgame franchise "Castlevania" and has set helmer Paul W.S. Anderson ("Alien vs. Predator") to adapt and direct.

Paul and Crystal Sky president Benedict Carver will produce along with Anderson and Jeremy Bolt, who are partnered in Impact Pictures.

Pic will focus on the origins of Dracula and the uprising of the Belmont Clan, a vampire-slaying family who supposedly become humanity's last hope.

"Castlevania" was first released in 1986. The latest version, "Castlevania: Curse of Darkness," comes out Stateside on Nov. 8.

Crystal Sky has Columbia's "Ghost Rider," starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes, in post-production.

Impact Pictures pics include "Mortal Kombat" and the "Resident Evil" franchise.

Production is slated to start in mid-2006; no casting has been set.