According to Variety, Platinum Studios and Blue Star Pictures have hired the Pang brothers (Bangkok Dangerous) to direct The Darkness, based on the comicbook series from Top Cow Prods.

The horror pic is under option at Miramax, where it had been brought in by Bob and Harvey Weinstein for Dimension Films. With the Weinsteins gone, it's unclear whether the specialty arm will still pursue the project.

Platinum and Blue Star are prepared to go it alone, with Platinum now having raised half the financing for the $28 million movie. Miramax's option expires at the end of January.

The vidgame publisher Majesco, in association with Top Cow and Platinum, also is developing a game for the new Xbox 360 platform that's skedded for release in early 2007.

The Darkness is about a Mafia hit man who discovers he is heir to a supernatural, dangerous force.