Mikael Håfström to direct 'The Rite'

Mikael Håfström is set to direct New Line Cinema's "The Rite," an upcoming fact-based thriller based on a nonfiction book by Matt Baglio.

According to Variety, the film follows a young man who joins the Vatican's newly formed Exorcism School, where he soon finds himself facing the devil.

Michael Petroni, whose credits include "Queen of the Damned" and the upcoming "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," wrote the script.

Håfström also directed "Derailed" (a film I absolutely hated) and "1408" (one I mildly enjoyed). He's currently wrapping up "Shanghai," starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, John Cusack, David Morse and Franka Potente.

Daily news dose: Petroni to write third 'Narnia,' Banderas joins Allen flick

Here's your dose of film news for Feb. 27, 2009:

• Michael Petroni is set to write "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," which Walden Media will develop with Fox 2000. Richard LaGravanese wrote the most recent draft, according to Variety. Fox hopes to have the film ready for the 2010 holiday season.

• Steven Zeitchik at the Risky Biz Blog has learned from sources that Damian Shannon and Mark Swift are gearing up to work on a script for a second "Friday the 13th." Nothing is confirmed at this point, but given the success of the first reboot, chances are we'll see more Jason on the big screen in the near future.

• Woody Allen is casting like crazy for his untitled movie, and the latest to join the project is Antonio Banderas. Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin are already on board. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film will start shooting this summer. Plot details are unknown.

• Remake alert! Warner Bros. is planning to reboot "The NeverEnding Story." Wolfgang Petersen directed the original in 1984, based on the book by Michael Ende. According to the Hollywood Reporter, no writers are attached at this point.