Variety is reporting that Mandalay Pictures has optioned film rights to a yet-to-be-released novel called Horns. No one would care, except that the novel is written by Joe Hill — better known as Stephen King’s son. The novel is described as “a love story driven by horror and vengeance”. This sounds tacky, and — once again — no one would care, except that the horror and vengeance comes into play when some dude wakes up all hungover from partying, and apparently has gigantic horns growing out of his head and a dead girlfriend. Yes!

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, folks. Murder? Hangovers? Dead girlfriends? Gigantic horns?! This story seems undeniably crazy/sexy/cool. And if Mandalay Pictures can make a decent film, or sell the rights to Universal, as they so often do — it looks like we’re in for a horny treat.

Peter Gruber and Cathy Shulman will produce Horns, with Joe Hill as an executive producer. Mandalay has several current first-look options — including some on graphic novels — and they’re prepping Sinatra with Martin Scorsese at Universal as we write.