Hammer takes on publishing

Horror label inks deal with literary agency PFD

By MARC GRASER

Horror label Hammer Films, in the midst of being revived at the megaplex, plans to get into the publishing biz, inking a deal with British literary agency PFD to pursue book deals based on its slate of properties.

"Hammer is an iconic household name with a loyal fanbase and the raft of forthcoming initiatives will create a whole new generation of devotees," said Caroline Michel, CEO of PFD.

Michel said the agency will look for partnerships with publishers in all territories to "bring new life to the brand with exciting contemporary writers," the way it has done with the James Bond franchise, by tapping scribes such as Sebastian Faulks and Charlie Higson to write books based on the secret agent for different audiences.

Deal was announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany.

Hammer, which was behind literary based horror pics like "Dracula" and "The Curse of Frankenstein" in the 1950s, currently has 15 pics in development and is wrapping up "The Resident" as its first major release since the 1980s. Thriller, that was helmed by musicvid director Antti Jokinen, stars Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Christopher Lee, who played Dracula in several Hammer releases.

The label is also remaking the Swedish thriller "Let the Right One In," that "Cloverfield"-helmer Matt Reeves is redoing as "Let Me In."

Kodi Smit-McPhee ("The Road"), Chloe Moretz ("500 Days of Summer") and Richard Jenkins recently signed on to star.

Hammer is part of Exclusive Media Group, based in London and Los Angeles.