May 15, 2008 Variety reported ont the status of Alexandre Aja's 3-D "Piranha" remake today. Here's what they had to say.



Dimension Films is producing "Piranha 3-D," a remake of Joe Dante's 1978 cult classic about a school of flesh-eating piranhas released into a summer resort.

Alexandre Aja ("The Hills Have Eyes") will helm the project and co-write the script with "Hills" scribe Gregory Levasseur based on a draft by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg.

The Weinstein Co., whose previous "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" grossed $197 million worldwide, is working with 3-D specialist Neville Page ("Star Trek," "Avatar") to create the project's peckish piscatorial creatures.

Dimension has rights to U.S. and English-speaking territories. The Weinstein Co. will be selling international rights at Cannes.

Mark Canton is producing along with Marc Toberoff, Alix Taylor and J. Todd Harris from IPW. Aja and Levasseur will also get a producer credit.

"The film presents us with a unique opportunity to launch a new global franchise and take advantage of the incredible developments in 3-D technology," said Dimension topper Bob Weinstein.

While U.S. studios are embracing 3-D fare, R-rated "Piranha 3-D" is one of the few pics, along with Lionsgate's "My Bloody Valentine," utilizing the technology in films aimed at adult auds.

Project is one of the Weinstein Co.'s international sales big-hitters at this year's Cannes market, along with "Shanghai," "Youth in Revolt" and "All Good Things."


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