RKO sets Marcus for 'Zombie'

Director to helm remake of 1943 classic pic

By MICHAEL FLEMING

RKO's Roseblood Movie Co. and Twisted Pictures have set Adam Marcus to direct "I Walked With a Zombie," the remake of the Val Lewton RKO 1943 classic.

Marcus, who directed "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday," has written the script with Debra Sullivan, his writing partner on the Val Kilmer starrer "Conspiracy."

The film focuses on a private tutor who discovers a terrifying family secret while working at the ancient estate of a New Orleans businessman. The original was a forerunner of the corps of walking corpse films that followed. Hartley called the film one of the most valuable in the RKO library.

RKO's Ted Hartley will produce with Twisted's Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Carl Mazzocone. Andy Fickman, who recently pacted with Roseblood and Twisted to oversee four remakes, will be exec producer with Betsy Sullenger, his partner in their Oops Doughnuts production banner.

Aside from "Zombie," Fickman is overseeing remakes of 1945's "The Body Snatcher" (already remade several times), 1946's "Bedlam" and 1939's "Five Came Back" (remade twice before). Fickman said the filmmakers are a strong match for bringing "Zombie" back from the dead.

"Adam and Deborah have created a chilling screenplay that along with Adam's vision would make Lewton proud," Fickman said.