Joe Johnston to direct 'Wolfman'

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Hollywood filmmaker Joe Johnston has signed on to take Mark Romanek's place in the director's chair for the new big-screen thriller "The Wolfman."

Romanek dropped out of the project last week reportedly because of creative and budgetary differences with Universal Pictures, the studio behind the movie.

Johnston's screen credits include "Hidalgo," "Jurassic Park III," "October Sky" and "Jumanji."

The $100 million "Wolfman" picture was expected to begin production in London next month with Johnston at the helm, Benicio Del Toro playing the title character, Anthony Hopkins portraying his father and Emily Blunt cast as the female lead, Variety.com reported Monday.