Principal photography has begun on director Vincenzo Natali’s (Splice) ghost movie Haunter.  The film stars Abigail Breslin as a teenage girl who died with her family in 1986 under sinister circumstances.  In the present, Breslin much reach out “from beyond the grave” to help her living counterpart, Olivia, avoid the same fate she suffered.  In addition to Breslin, the cast also includes Stephen McHattie (Immortals), Peter Outerbridge (Silent Hill: Revelation), Michelle Nolden (Red), and David Hewlett (Rise of the Planet of the Apes).  Production is underway in Toronto and Brantford and the film is slated for release sometime in 2013.Breslin recently wrapped a role in Gavin Hood’s adaptation of Ender’s Game, and is said to be eyeing the starring role in an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s The Things We Do For Love.  Hit the jump to read the full press release regarding Haunter.Here’s the press release:

April 13, 2012. Toronto Principal photography on Vincenzo Natali's (Splice, Cube) new feature, Haunter, from Copperheart Entertainment, starring Abigail Breslin (Zombieland, Rango, Little Miss Sunshine), Stephen McHattie (300, Watchmen, Immortals), Peter Outerbridge (Silent Hill:Revelation, Lucky Number Slevin), Michelle Nolden (Red, Time Traveler's Wife)  and David Hewlett (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) has begun.

Haunter, directed by Vincenzo Natali from a screenplay written by Brian King  (Cypher, Night Train), is produced by Steven Hoban (Splice, Ryan, The Ginger Snaps trilogy), and co-produced by Mark Smith (388 Arletta Avenue, The Spine). Principal photography will run from April 16 until May 19, 2012 in Toronto and Brantford. Release is slated for 2013.

In this reverse ghost story, teenage Lisa (Breslin) and her family died in 1986 under sinister circumstances but remain trapped in their house, unable to move on. Lisa must reach out from beyond the grave to help her present-day, living counterpart, Olivia, avoid the same fate Lisa and her family suffered.

"HAUNTER vividly demonstrates that even ghosts have a lot to be afraid of. Brian King's script constructs a Borgian Labyrinth out of the most mundane settings and shows us how even in our everyday lives, we are spirits living in the material world," says Natali.

Cinematography by Jon Joffin (Daydream Nation, Alice, The Andromeda Strain) with production design by Peter Cosco (388 Arletta Avenue, Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl, Nothing), costume design by Patrick Antosh (388 Arletta Avenue, American Psycho) and editing by Michael Doherty (Survival of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, Land of the Dead).

Haunter is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One and in the UK by STUDIOCANAL. US sales will be handled by CAA.