{Repoted by Michael Fleming in VARIETY}

- Screen Gems has made a deal to remake "Rec," a Spanish-language horror film about an outbreak of rabies in Los Angeles.

Remake will be written and directed by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, who helmed the horror film "The Poughkeepsie Tapes." Production will begin early next year.

Vertigo's Doug Davison and Roy Lee will produce with Sergio Aguero. Julio and Carlos Fernandez will be exec producers. The original film, financed by Barcelona-based Filmax, was directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza. It has yet to be set for distribution.

In the film, a downtown Los Angeles apartment building is quarantined after a mysterious deadly and highly contagious strain of rabies breaks out. A reporter and her cameraman are among those trapped inside.

Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper said he was eager to do more deals with Filmax prexy Julio Fernandez to remake Filmax's Spanish horror fare.

"Horror may be waning, but this is such a unique concept that I'm certain it will cut through all the blood and glut of recent horror in the marketplace," Culpepper said.

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