Rogue Pictures, the genre arm of Universal-based Focus Features, has made a three-year first-look deal with Platinum Dunes' Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, according to Variety. The three will produce fright fare budgeted under $25 million and receive as much as 10% of first-dollar gross.

Platinum, which has already completed production on a Rogue remake of The Hitcher for April release, will kick off the deal by remaking Near Dark, the 1987 pic about a cowboy wooed into joining a roving band of vampires. Samuel Bayer, helmer of such videos as Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," is attached to direct. Matt Venne is writing the script, and Charles Meeker and Amy Kaufman also produce. Production begins early next year.

The producer also will steer a remake of the 1987 film The Changeling, which Rogue already had on its development roster. Separately, Platinum Dunes is remaking Hitchcock's The Birds for Universal Pictures.

New Line today releases Platinum Dunes' third film, the $16 million The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. Platinum launched in 2003 with a The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning redo that cost $9.5 million and grossed $107 million worldwide. Its second effort, remake The Amityville Horror, cost $19 million and grossed $110 million worldwide.