GLADIATOR scribe John Logan will get seven figures to adapt Jordan Ainsley's vampire novel, THE PASSAGE, for Fox 2000, reports VARIETY. Ridley Scott is interested in directing. Jordan Ainsley is the pen name for Justin Cronin, who sold the publishing rights to Ballantine for $3.75 million. Fox 2000 acquired the film rights soon after, however the publishing deal was simply based on the first 400 pages and an outline. The studio and publisher had to wait for Cronin to finish.

The story follows medical experiments where South American bats are used to cure terminally sick patients. However, the bats' bites turn the test subjects into a horde of bloodthirsty vampires.