According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Horton Hears a Who" director Jimmy Hayward has been picked to helm the Warner Bros. adaptation of based on the grim visaged DC Comics character. The trade previously reported that Andrew Lazar is producing via his Mad Chance Prods., as is Akiva Goldsman for Weed Road.

Actor Josh Brolin is attached to star in the film, which previously had Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor ("Crank") on board as directors. The duo, who also wrote the script, bowed out over creative differences in November. In July 2007, Neveldine said their draft was developed from "the [Joe R.] Lansdale series, definitely. The movie that we're -- we've pretty much wrote it -- but we're writing is going to be the introduction to Jonah Hex. So we're incorporating a lot of stuff but we're bringing in, of course, Quentin Turnbull. It's almost like a double revenge story. They're both justified in their own revenge. That's what's so great about Jonah Hex in this movie. And again we get to play with an anti-hero."

Previously, "Punisher" helmer Lexi Alexander was rumored to have been considered for the director's chair, and coincidentally former "Punisher" actor Thomas Jane jockeyed for the part as well. Taylor said in August, "We had never brought his name up, he's great, we like him ... We don't see the guy as Jonah Hex, to be quite honest with you. But we like him. We're totally stoked that he would do that, it's so awesome."

No release date has been announced.