Trio move into scribe's 'Apartment'

'Grudge,' 'Old Boy' also based on Ohishi novels

By PIA LUNDBERG

U.S. banner MonteCristo Entertainment, Japan's Amuse Aica and Scandinavia's Noble Entertainment will produce a Japanese pic based on horror writer Kei Ohishi's new novel "Apartment 1303 -- Some Rentals Are Too Good to Be True!"

"Apartment 1303" will be shot in Japan in the first quarter of 2006; the trio also own the U.S. remake rights.

Hit pics "The Grudge," "Old Boy" and "The Last Supper" are all based on the scribe's novels.

Amuse will produce while Noble and MonteCristo are co-producers. MonteCristo also will handle international sales. Director and actors will be announced shortly.

"Apartment 1303" is Swedish distribution and production company Noble Entertainment's first international co-production.

Rights were brokered by Japanese literary agent T.O. Entertainment.