According to Variety, Paramount Pictures has decided to go to Crawlspace, tapping horror specialist Stephen Susco (The Grudge) to adapt Herbert Lieberman's novel and setting up the project with Evolution Entertainment.

The story, published in 1971, centers on a couple who have retired to the country and decide to ask a shy young man who's repairing their heater to stay for dinner. Mysterious occurrences mount over the next few weeks, culminating with the discovery that the man has taken up residence in the basement crawlspace.

In 1972, CBS made a TV movie based on "Crawlspace," starring Arthur Kennedy and Teresa Wright. Underlying rights to the book remained with CBS and were transferred to Paramount since both are members of the Viacom corporate family.