It will be directed and written by Sin City and 300 creator Frank Miller and based on the classic series by comic master Will Eisner.

Adapted from Will Eisner's graphic novels, The Spirit tells the story of a man who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus -- who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face -- has a different mission: he's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront ... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. In the vein of Batman Begins and Sin City, The Spirit takes viewers on a ride of a hero who is born, murdered and born again.

Lionsgate will partner on the project with Odd Lot Entertainment, which is producing and co-financing, and Batfilm Productions, which is producing. Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete The Wedding Planner are producing for Odd Lot. Lionsgate's president of film production Mike Paseornek is producing for Lionsgate. Michael Uslan Batman Begins is producing for Batfilm. The deal is a unique multi-picture co-financing, co-production and split rights arrangement, with The Spirit being the first film in the pipeline.

Miller says, "Will Eisner's The Spirit is a product of passion and dedication for me. Will was a dear friend, a mentor, and translating his vision to the screen will be a labour of love. I look forward to working with the people at Lionsgate, and to add to their lauded reputation for genre films."