John Leonetti, who made the leap from cinematographer to director with last year’s successful Conjuring spin-off Annabelle, is attached to a new project. He’s landed the job of directing the adaptation of graphic novel Tag for 20th Century Fox.
Originally created by Keith Giffen, Kody Chamberlain and Chee for Boom! Studios in 2006, the three-issue comic followed what happened when an everyday guy discovers he’s been “tagged” by a random stranger. Which means he’s the recipient of an ancient curse that starts to rot his body. He has to try to learn the origin of the curse and has the tough decision to pass it on to someone else in order to save his own life. And can he even live with himself if he does?
According to Deadline the film version, which has a script by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski will not simply replicate the plot of the original comics, but will focus on a female protagonist dealing with the supernatural situation. It’s a film that was in development at Universal for a while before the rights reverted to the comic book company and set up again at Fox.
Leonetti has worked on another directorial gig, Wolves At The Door, and is set to reunite with his Conjuring director, James Wan, for the film’s sequel, The Enfield Haunting, itself preparing to shoot soon in the UK and US.