Spanish-language director Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego has stepped in to replace Trevor Cawood at the helm of the "found footage" sci-fi flick Apollo 18.  As we previously reported, the film, produced by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted), centers on the "What if?" scenario of NASA launching an 18th Apollo mission and that mission, covered-up until now, discovered extraterrestrial life.  According to Heat Vision, "the majority of the story takes place in the rocket in between the Earth and the Moon."

The Weinstein Company, who picked up the project earlier this month, is racing to get the film shot and into theaters by early March so that it will beat Area 51, another "found footage" sci-fi film directed by Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity). Heat Vision reports that the pace was too fast for Cawood, who worked on the special effects for the The Matrix sequels and was set to make his feature directing debut on Apollo 18.  Lopez-Gallego, who previously helmed the award-winning King of the Hill, will make his English-language debut with the film.