Alex Proyas (I, Robot and Dark City) will direct Dracula Year Zero for Universal, reports Variety.com. The movie will be about Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure that served as an inspiration for Bram Stoker when he wrote Dracula in the late 1800s. Proyas was reportedly attracted to the screenplay, written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, saying that it plays off the horror and sympathy you have for Vlad, a man who "sells his soul to the Devil to save his kingdom and family."

Yes, the Haunted Newsreel is back for a one-shot look at the news and highlights of San Diego Comic-Con 2006. This week, we'll be looking at Skinwalkers, Grind House, The Reaping, Pan's Labyrinth, The Wicker Man, Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror, and, oh yes, Snakes on a Plane.

The Con:

Early in September I was contacted by the two authors of a book entitled "Vampire Over London," a work that attempted to bring to light the 8 months that Bela Lugosi spent in England between 1951 and 1952. They wanted me to help publicize the book as they were publishing it independently. I agreed to interview the one in the United States, Frank Dello Stritto. What came from that was some fascinating insight into the secret life of Bela Lugosi.