June 21, 2016 - 13:07 AMT
Eli Roth to helm Bruce Willis in "Death Wish" remake

Eli Roth has signed on to direct "Death Wish" remake. Bruce Willis is attached to star as Paul Kersey, the reluctant vigilante made famous by Charles Bronson, in MGM/Paramount's long-in-the-works remake of the 1974 hit, AceShowbiz reports.

Eli will helm the reboot from a script by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski. Joe Carnahan penned the original script. Roger Birnbaum will serve as producer. The original film was an adaptation of a 1972 novel by Brian Garfield.

The story centered on Paul Kersey who goes on a revenge spree after his wife is killed and his daughter is sexually assaulted during a home invasion.

Eli is coming on board the "Death Wish" remake following the departure of "Big Bad Wolves" helmers Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado. It's his latest effort to move from his bloody genre-film origins to studio fare.

Eli last directed Keanu Reeves in sexual thriller "Knock Knock". He was attached to helm monster movie "Meg" for Warner Bros., but eventually left the project due to creative differences. He is also returning to host "Shark After Dark", Discovery's Shark Week late-night talk show starting on Sunday, June 26.