Bayona to direct HATER

Juan Antonio Bayona has been selected to direct the GDT-produced film, HATER. Bayona won acclaim for his directorial effort on THE ORPHANAGE, which was also produced by Del Toro.

The film will be made at Universal, after landing there under del Toro’s first-look deal. According to Variety, co-producer Mark Johnson originally approached Del Toro to direct, but GDT’s commitment to THE HOBBIT made it unlikely. The producers then turned to Bayona.

The Glen Mazzara-scripted adaptation of British author David Moody’s thriller novel is about an epidemic of violence perpetrated by ordinary people.