Universal has signed Nikolaj Arcel to direct a US remake of his own film Island Of Lost Souls, reports Variety.

The plot centres on a teen girl, Lulu, who becomes embroiled in a battle between good and evil when her younger brother is possessed by the spirit of an 18th century magician.

Arcel's original visual effects-heavy film was a box office hit in its native Denmark last year.

Marc Abraham and Eric Newman (Children Of Men) will produce the film with Jennifer O'Kieffe - who wrote the highly-regarded unproduced screenplay Sex And Sylvia Plath - on scripting duties.

Arcel previously directed the 2004 thriller King's Game.