'Gospel' according to helmer Aja

Pic reps helmer's first departure from horror genre

By ALISON JAMES

'The Gospel According to Jimmy'

PARIS -- In his first departure from the horror genre, "The Hills Have Eyes" helmer Alexandre Aja is attached to direct an English-language bigscreen adaptation of Gallic bestseller "The Gospel According to Jimmy."

Rights to the book, by Goncourt winner Didier Van Cauwelaert, were acquired recently by Alexandre Films, the Gallic production company of Aja's helmer-producer father, Alexandre Arcady.

The company produced Aja's first film and co-produced "High Tension" with Luc Besson's EuropaCorp.

Set in the near future, "Jimmy" tells the story of a pool cleaner in L.A. who finds out he's a clone of Jesus, made from DNA taken from the Shroud of Turin.

"It's a wonderful satirical comedy about America today and the rise of Christian fundamentalism," Aja said.

Before starting work on the script of "Jimmy," Aja will first direct "Mirrors," a loose adaptation of the Korean film "Into the Mirror," penned by Aja and his regular writing partner Gregory Levesseur and produced by New Regency.

Aja also co-wrote and produced "P2," a horror film set in a parking lot directed by Frank Kalfoun.

Alexandra Films' other projects include helmer Diane Kurys' first TV project, a mini about the life of Francoise Sagan