Barker’s “Meat Train” based upon “Books of Blood” series

The celebrated author, artist, and filmmaker, Clive Barker has decided to team up with producer Jorge Saralegui to create a shingle called Midnight Picture Show.

The production gets underway later this year, with Lions Gate prepared to bankroll and distribute. Lakeshore Entertainment has been set to finance it.

They’re going to make movies based upon Barker’s old “Books of Blood” series.

First flick on deck will be an adaptation of the seriously grisly tale “The Midnight Meat Train,” which will be directed by creature design veteran Patrick Tatopoulous.
Other pics on the way from the new Barker venture include AGE OF DESIRE, PIG BLOOD BLUES and NEW YORK RESURRECTION, all of which they hope to get into production before the end of 2006.

Tatapoulos is currently working on creature design for SILENT HILL and recently wrapped design work on the sequel to UNDERWORLD. Filming on MEAT TRAIN is scheduled to begin this July.

It’s about a Gotham-based “photographer’s effort to track down “the subway butcher,” a search that leads to an unholy secret.”

Barker say “We will not be reheating old films, freshening up old ideas … Even forgetting the sequels we hope to make, I’ve got enough here for 20 movies of varying budget scales … Jorge and I want to wind up with a library of pictures that will reflect my sensibilities, which are decidedly R rated … In fact, the moment I make a PG-13 horror movie, you can take me out and shoot me. Our desire is to leave you feeling that we’re a little crazy.”

More good news is that Barker will do a final polish of every script that comes out of this company.