Mike Newell to Helm The Day of the Triffids

Ghost House Pictures has found a director for its upcoming adaptation of The Day of the Triffids. Deadline reports that Four Weddings and a Funeral and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire helmer Mike Newell will take on the adaptation of John Wyndam’s 1951 sci-fi horror novel, previously turned into the 1962 film Invasion of the Triffids.

Featuring a screenplay by Neil Cross (who worked with a different kind of alien invasion with last year’s Pacific Rim), The Day of the Triffids has the Earth being invaded by extraterrestrial plants (Triffids) who begin their attack by blinding Earth’s inhabitants.

Mark Gordon, Michael Preger and Don Murphy are partnering with Ghost House principals Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert to produce. Ghost House principals Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake will executive produce alongside Susan Montford. J.R. Young and Audrey Chon will oversee the project for Ghost House. Drew Simon will supervise the project for The Mark Gordon Company.