The Dominion Post of Wellington, New Zealand is reporting that the movie version of 30 Days of Night, Steve Niles' high concept vampires-in-the-polar-dark comic book, will begin production in Auckland, New Zealand in July.  Spider-Man director Sam Raimi is producing the vampire film along with Rob Tapert (Lucy Lawless' husband).  The moviemakers held auditions this week in Wellington for the film, which according to The Dominion Post, has a $70 million budget, and is scheduled for a pre-Halloween release in October of 2007. 

Steve Niles comic book series was optioned way back in 2002 even before the first issue of the comic book appeared (see '30 Days of Night Optioned'), and has been 'in development' ever since.  Finally it appears as if it will get made with filming set to take place in New Zealand and Alaska.