Salma Hayek has joined the Universal Pictures film Cirque du Freak opposite John C. Reilly. According to Variety, this horror drama will mark Hayek's first film role since going on maternity leave.

This Paul Weitz project is based on a bestselling twelve-book children's series by Darren Shan. It finds Reilly playing a vampire that drafts a fourteen year old to be his assistant. Hayek is set to play the bearded woman, Madame Truska.

The film goes into production 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.