Ray to direct 'Secret In Their Eyes' remake

Billy Ray has signed to write and direct an English language version of The Secret In Their Eyes (El Secreto De Sus Ojos).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros is currently in negotiations to secure the rights to the Argentinian thriller - which won 'Best Foreign Language Film' at this year's Oscars.

The film tells the story of a retired prosecutor who writes a novel in an attempt to exorcise the memory of a brutal unsolved murder, while also dealing with the re-emergence of his unrequited love interest from years gone by.

Ray said: "I want to try to make the movie that Anthony Minghella would have made from this material. Or Alan Pakula. I know that's setting the bar high, but it's the only reason to take something like this on."

He added: "I am beyond excited about it - feeling truly privileged that a studio would take a shot on this kind of material."

Mark Johnson is producing the remake, which will reportedly be set in present-day America.

Ray has recently finished work on the script for the 24 movie and has also adapted Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games trilogy for the big screen. He previously penned State of Play and Flightplan.