D.V. DeVincentis, known for his screenplays Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, has been hired to write The Night Stalker for director Edgar Wright and star Johnny Depp.

From Walt Disney Pictures, the movie is based on the cult ABC TV series of the same name that ran from 1974 to 1975. Johnny Depp will assume the role of Carl Kolchak, a character originally played by A Christmas Story's Old Man Darren McGavin. Kolchak works as a reporter for the Chicago-based independent News Service Stories, and deals mostly with supernatural subjects.

Johnny Depp will produce alongside Christi Dembrowski through their joint production banner. The film is slated to be Edgar Wright's next after The World's End, but there are rumors, perpetuated by the director himself, that his Marvel adventure Ant-Man might squeeze in front of The Night Stalker.