Ken Watanabe has joined the upcoming Universal Pictures vampire comedy Cirque du Freak. According to Variety, John C. Reilly and Salma Hayek are attached to star in the project.

The movie is base on Darren Shan's twelve-book children's series of the same name. Paul Weitz will be directing a screenplay by Brian Helgeland. The plot centers around a half-vampire that hires on a fourteen-year-old boy as his personal assistant.

Watanabe will be playing the Cirque's Mr. Tall. The film will begin shooting next month.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant was released October 23rd, 2009 and stars John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Jessica Carlson, Michael Cerveris, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, Daniel Newman. The film is directed by Paul Weitz.