Robert Englund Directing The Vij

Just yesterday we told you about Englund turning down the role in the upcoming remake of Nightmare on Elm Street. So what exactly does Englund have to do then? Well it appears that he is looking to do more behind the camera work. He has ventured into directing before in 976-Evil and recently Killer Pad.

Today Variety announced his next endeavor would be directing a new dark gothic fantasy, The Vij. Based on an eponymous novel by Russian writer Nikolaj Gogol, "The Vij" revolves around an evil genie who conditions the actions of a young priest, leading him to commit murder and fall in love with an old witch who is actually not what she seems.

Christopher Lee will star as a "God-like" character called The Father. Rome-based Russian actress Olga Schuvalova will play Alina and Englund plans to jump in front of the camera from time to time as well. The casting process is still under way including the role for the wayward priest called Khoma.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in April in the Lazio region of Italy. Most of the shooting will be done in the uninhabited medieval village of Civita di Bagnoregio.