Eli Roth to Direct 'Harker' With Russell Crowe Starring as Dracula

Eli Roth is set to get back to the directing seat. The "Inglourious Basterds" actor is in talks to helm a thriller called "Harker" for Warner Bros. Pictures. The long-gestating movie project has now tapped Russell Crowe as one of its lead actors.

Deadline has learned that Crowe will not tackle the titular role of Jonathan Harker, who is a Scotland Yard detective. Instead, the "Man of Steel" actor is set to star as Dracula, who is hunted down by the titular character.

The producers still haven't found the right actor to play Harker. According to an insider, the studio is not in a rush to cast the leading star. "Once they figure out the story then they'll figure out who's right to play him," said the source.

Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Killoran, "Harker" will reunite Roth and Crowe, who worked together in upcoming RZA-directed actioner "The Man with the Iron Fists". Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy have been tapped to pen the script based on Bram Stoker's famed novel "Dracula".

Warners has obtained the rights to "Harker" in February 2011 and initially hired Jaume Collet-Serra as the director. Later on, Collet-Serra bowed out of the project to work on his other movies. With Roth being close to helm the thriller, the studio hopes to start the production next year.

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