Universal Pictures is breathing new life into its vampire project Dracula Year Zero, with Gary Shore coming on board as the new director.

We last reported on this languishing project back in August 2010, when Sam Worthington was set to star for director Alex Proyas. Dracula Year Zero fell by the wayside when the budget spiraled out of control, but it is back on track with a new script by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (Flash Gordon). Sam Worthington and Alex Proyas are no longer involved.

The story centers on the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian royal who terrorized his countrymen, and served as the primary inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Michael De Luca is on board as a producer.

It isn't known when production will begin on Dracula Year Zero.