Merrick here...


Jimmy Hayward will direct Warner's live action adaption of JONAH HEX.

CRANK's Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor were previously attached to direct, but they ain't there any more. At this time, Josh Brolin is still attached to star.

The character of Hex, known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform, was a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. One incarnation of his comic book series saw the Western genre combined with supernatural elements, and it's this aspect that was featured in Neveldine and Taylor's script. The studio will likely keep the script, though it's expected that Hayward will put his stamp on it.

...says THIS REPORT in Hollywood Reporter.

Hayward is best know for co-directing the recent CGI adaptation of HORTON HEARS A WHO!, and apparently beat out McG for this gig (insert snide comment here). Hayward's animation background includes REBOOT and multiple Pixar projects (TOY STORY 1 & 2 and MONSTERS, INC).