Source:MGM

September 2, 2008

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) has signed Vadim Perelman (House of Sand and Fog) to direct Poltergeist.

Cale Boyter, Executive Vice President, Production and Luke Ryan, Vice President, Production, are overseeing the project for MGM.

"We are excited to have Vadim direct 'Poltergeist,' a title which already has a built-in movie-going audience," said Boyter. "With his established track record, we look forward to having him lead the creative direction on this new character-based horror project that will utilize the original film as a jumping off point."

Currently directing and executive producing "Ice," a drama pilot for the AMC cable network, Perelman wrote and directed House of Sand and Fog starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley, which earned 3 Oscar® nominations in 2004. Recently, Perelman directed The Life Before Her Eyes starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood. Prior to his film and television work, Perelman established himself as one of the most sought-after directors of commercials and music videos, responsible for a number of memorable spots for multinational clients.

The original Poltergeist was released by MGM in 1982 and earned 3 Oscar® nominations. The film gained a cult following spawning two sequels Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III, along with a television series "Poltergeist: The Legacy," which aired for 4 seasons on the Showtime network (1996-1999). Juliet Snowden and Stiles White are writing the new Poltergeist script for the studio.