Lions Gate Films has signed a deal with Steve Niles' and Thomas Jane's Raw Entertainment to acquire the motion picture rights to three graphic novels, The Lurkers, In the Blood, and The Dark Country, all which were written by Niles.  Screenwriter Tab Murphy is already working on In the Blood, a werewolf tale, which is likely to be the first project filmed under the terms of this deal.  Niles and Jane are interested in creating mature 'R' rated horror movies for adults, and the deal with Lions Gate will provide Niles with more input into the movie versions of his work than he has had with his other graphic novels such as 30 Days of Night, which have been optioned for the big screen.

Niles and Jane are also collaborating on the comic book series Bad Planet, which will be unveiled at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con (see 'Steve Niles & Thomas Jane's Bad Planet').  Image Comics will publish the first issue of Bad Planet in December.