Nearly one year ago, we heard that John Carpenter was coming on board to serve as an executive producer for a new version of Halloween with the intention to make "a new version, one that fixes what Carpenter disliked about Rob Zombie's remake." Carpenter was said to be "dedicated to working closely with the director" and was also in negotiations to compose the musical score, as he did with the 1978 original that he directed.

Now comes word directly from Carpenter that Danny McBride (Your Highness, above left) and David Gordon Green (above right) will write the screenplay and Green will direct the new version. Carpenter says: "David and Danny both came to my office recently with [producer] Jason Blum and shared their vision for the new movie and…WOW. They get it. I think you’re gonna dig it. They blew me away."

Carpenter confirmed he will remain with the project as executive producer "to consult and offer my advice and feedback as needed." He also teased again that he might compose a new musical score: "Maybe. It could be kind of cool."

As to Green and McBride, they've been working together since 2000's George Washington; Green wrote and directed while McBride served as additional second unit director. McBride made his big-screen debut in Green's lovely and charming All the Real Girls (2003) and they've collaborated many times since then, perhaps most notably in Your Highness and the TV shows Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals.

For those concerned that Green and McBride might have in mind a comic approach to the material, McBride says: "David and I are thrilled to step outside of our comedic collaborations and dive into a dark and vicious horror. Nobody will be laughing.”

Concerning Green, anyone who's seen Joe with Nicolas Cage can testify that the filmmaker is fully capable of going very dark and intense as needed. 

One more piece of good news for Halloween fans: the movie will open in theaters on October 19, 2018.