Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Joe Carnahan is making a deal at Warner Bros to direct Undying Love, with Carnahan writing the script. It is based on the graphic novel and revolves around an ex-soldier who falls for a vampire, though in order to be with her, he must take on her creator. And that creator happens to be protected by an army of mobsters in the Hong Kong underworld. Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman created the novel and wrote the first script draft, and Michael De Luca and Stephen L’Heureux and Benderspink are producing.

Carnahan, who last helmed The Grey, said he sparked to the concept, even though it was a little outside his usual comfort zone. “I really took to it, and the metric I use is how fast I come up with ideas and an outline, and this brought about a bunch of ideas,” Carnahan said. “It is a little out of my wheelhouse, taking place in China with mysticism and swordplay, but there is a lot of potential here.”

Carnahan is preparing to direct for A&E and Fox 21 the pilot for Those Who Kill, a series based on a hit Danish format. He hasn’t locked his next feature, though he recently turned in a Death Wish remake script to MGM and Paramount and has the pic Continue at Fox.

While Oscar buzz has primarily focused on recent releases, Carnahan is holding out hope for The Grey, even though the film was released by Open Road in January. There is a strong performance by Liam Neeson, and the $25 million film grossed $77 million worldwide. Carnahan expects Open Road to make a push for the film as the race continues to heat up. “Call me biased, but I think The Grey is a powerful film, regardless of the fact that it came out in January,” Carnahan told me. He’s repped by CAA.