Legendary Pictures has optioned the rights to Andrew Pyper’s forthcoming novel THE DAMNED, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in February 2015, according to Variety.
From the author of THE DEMONOLOGIST, which is currently in development with Universal Pictures and Imagemovers, the story is described as “an elevated supernatural thriller in the vein of THE SIXTH SENSE or JACOB’S LADDER“.
Legendary’s Alex Hedlund and Tracy Stevens will oversee the project.
Here’s the synopsis for THE DAMNED:
Danny Orchard wrote a bestselling memoir about his near-death experience in a fire that claimed the life of his twin sister, Ashleigh, but despite the resulting fame and fortune he’s never been able to enjoy his second chance at life. Ash won’t let him.
In life, Danny’s charming and magnetic twin had been a budding psychopath who privately terrorized her family—and death hasn’t changed her wicked ways. Ash has haunted Danny for twenty years and now, just when he’s met the love of his life and has a chance at real happiness, she wants more than ever to punish him for being alive—so she sets her sights on Danny’s new wife and stepson.
Danny knows what Ash really wants is him, and he’s prepared to sacrifice himself in order to save the ones he loves. The question is: will he make it back this time?