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Millennium Films has optioned "Bangkok 8," the first in a three-book bestselling mystery series by John Burdett. "V For Vendetta" helmer James McTeigue is attached to direct.

In "Bangkok 8," a detective with the Royal Thai Police Force tracks the murderers of his partner, and also a U.S. Marine. The trail leads through Bangkok's drug and sex trade, and corrupt colleagues. Burdett, who just published "Bangkok Haunts," the third Thai-flavored novel in the series, lives in Bangkok and knows the terrain. ICM auctioned the books last week, and Millennium's Avi Lerner stepped up and got the property over several studios. Lerner will produce with Boaz Davidson, John Thompson and Joe Gatta.

The intention is to adapt several of the books and shoot in Thailand.

Deals comes as Millennium continues to raise the caliber of its product, getting Al Pacino and Robert De Niro to team for the Jon Avnet-directed "Righteous Kill."

McTeigue, who cut his teeth as second unit director on "The Matrix" films, made his feature directing debut on "V for Vendetta," and most recently helped out with an uncredited directing assist on the Nicole Kidman-Daniel Craig starrer "The Invasion," which Oliver Hirschbiegel directed.