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November 20, 2007


David R. Ellis is coming back to New Line for more death. The director has signed to direct and develop "Final Destination 4," the latest installment of New Line's popular horror series, which the studio plans to shoot in 3-D.

The premise of the series is that even if you cheat death once, a force that is death itself will stalk you until it finishes what is started, usually in a gruesome fashion. While plot details for "FD4" are being kept under wraps, the movie will stand alone: It will feature new teens facing new forms of death.

The script was written by Eric Bress, who co-wrote "Final Destination 2."

Ellis directed the second installment, which was praised for its elaborately orchestrated killings.

New Line's Richard Brener and Walter Hamada are overseeing the project, which has no start date.

The "Final Destination" films have been solid performers for New Line since they debuted in 2000. The first film grossed $53.3 million, the 2003 sequel made $46.5 million and the third, released in 2006, collected $54 million. The movies usually are made for at least half of that and do well on home video.

Ellis' credits include "Cellular" and "Snakes on a Plane" for New Line. He also is known for his second unit directing, having worked on such films as "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." He is in post on the thriller "Asylum" for Hide Park.