DeVincentis to pen 'Night Stalker' script

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HOLLYWOOD, May 19 (UPI) -- The producers of Johnny Depp's next picture, based on the spooky old television series "The Night Stalker," say they have signed up their chief screenwriter.

D.V. DeVincentis has agreed to handle the script for "The Night Stalker," which is based on the single-season cult series that ran on ABC during the 1974-1975 season.

The series, which starred Darrin McGavin, followed the adventures of a Chicago reporter snooping into mysterious crimes that turn out to have a dangerous supernatural angle.

DeVincentis created the scripts for "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity" and recently finished "Lay the Favorite," which stars Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rebecca Hall.

The new "Stalker" is high up on Disney's roster of coming attractions, in large part due to Depp's participation, The Hollywood Reporter said. The producers recently hired Edgar Wright, who did "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead," to do the directing.

Depp, who is also on the producing roster for "Stalker," is currently on screen in "Dark Shadows," which is also based on a 1970s series loaded with creepy chills.