Steven Spielberg is set to direct Robopocalypse, it was announced today by Mark Sourian and Holly Bario, Co-Presidents of Production for DreamWorks Studios. Based on the novel of the same name by Daniel H. Wilson, Spielberg will begin principal photography on the futuristic tale in January 2012. Disney's Touchstone will distribute the film in 2013.

Exploring the fate of the human race following a robot uprising, Robopocalypse has been adapted for the screen by Drew Goddard.

DreamWorks acquired the rights to Wilson's unpublished manuscript back in November 2009. Publishing rights were acquired by Doubleday and they plan to release the book in June 2011.

"'Robopocalypse' embodies an imaginative story of a robot rebellion unleashed against the human race," said Mark Sourian. "This is a project we immediately sparked to and with Steven directing it we knew it was in the best possible hands to bring it to worldwide audiences."

Before he starts on Robopocalypse, Spielberg will be finishing up The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn and War Horse. The former will be released on December 23, 2011 followed by the latter just five days later.