Naomi Watts will star and Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) is in negotiations to direct Universal's new version of The Birds, according to Variety.

The studio is planning a reimagining of Daphne Du Maurier's short story, which inspired the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock classic.

Universal is not looking to rush the film into production prior to a possible strike.

Stiles White and Juliet Snowden wrote a version of the script, which is still being developed. New screenwriters may be brought on board.