George A. Romero has signed to write and direct the thriller SOLITARY ISLE for Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment and Kadokawa Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, based on a short story by Koji Suzuki ("The Ring," "Dark Water"), marks the first project in a 50-50 joint venture between Hyde Park and Kadokawa in which they will co-finance horror-thriller films in the under-$25 million range.

SOLITARY ISLE likely will be distributed by 20th Century Fox, where Hyde Park has its first-look deal. Hyde Park International will handle foreign.

The story chronicles an expedition to a deserted island that turns deadly as the explorers face an unknown force.