Eli Roth will direct Bruce Willis in 'Death Wish' remake

LOS ANGELES, June 21 (UPI) -- Eli Roth will direct Bruce Willis in a forthcoming Death Wish remake.

The 44-year-old director confirmed as much on Monday's episode of The Jason Ellis Show podcast after news outlets linked him to the project earlier in the day.

"I'm so excited about it. It's going to be really fun," Roth said. "Bruce Willis is one of my favorite actors. I love him so much. That guy is so good. There's so many iconic performances, from John McClane [in Die Hard to] Unbreakable."

"We want to make this his Unforgiven," he added. "This is his vehicle ... [Our meeting] just went great. We really clicked. It's such a movie star-movie, where it's very much about him, that both of us have to really trust each other."

Michael Winner directed the original Death Wish, which opened in 1974. The movie is based on the Brian Garfield novel of the same name and inspired four sequels, Death Wish II (1982), Death Wish 3 (1985), Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) and Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994).

The film series starred Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, a husband and father who turns vigilante after his wife is murdered and daughter sexually assaulted during a home invasion. Willis will succeed Bronson as Kersey.

Roth is known for directing the horror movie Hostel and last released Knock Knock with Keanu Reeves in October. He is also writing and executive producing Lake Mead with Emily Goldwyn.