Alfred Hitchcock 'The Birds" remake being produced

Universal Pictures has hired Dutch helmer Diederik Van Rooijen to direct the remake of the Alfred Hitchcock classic The Birds, which Platinum Dunes and Mandalay Pictures are producing.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news and mentions that Van Rooijen is best known as the writer and director of the Dutch TV series "Penoza," which has been remade for U.S. audiences as ABC's "Red Widow."

Naomi Watts was attached to star in the film for a while, but she is no longer involved. The most recent version of the script was written by Jonathan Herman.

Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller are producing at Platinum Dunes, while Peter Guber and Cathy Schulman are producing for Mandalay Pictures.