MUMBAI: Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group and Platinum Studios Inc. have commenced production on Dead of Night. This film is based on the best-selling Italian comic book series, Dylan Dog, created by Tiziano Sclavi and published by Italy’s Sergio Bonelli Editore.

The comic book series has sold more than 56 million units worldwide and has been translated into 17 languages since its debut in 1986. Principal photography is taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Brandon Routh stars as Dylan – a reluctant private investigator who is drawn into the world of vampires, werewolves and the undead – and the film is being directed by Kevin Munroe, whose 2007 re-imagining of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles resurrected the billion dollar franchise.

Platinum Studios and the Hyde Park Group are joined in the production with producer Gilbert Adler who produced Superman Returns and Constantine for Warner Bros. The film re- teams Adler with Routh, who played Clark Kent.

Hyde Park and Platinum Studios completed the financing for the picture with Australia and New Zealand-based Omnilab Media and Hong Kong-based Standard Chartered Bank. The producers have also hired Harvey Lowry and Academy Award-winning DRAC Studios to handle make-up effects.

Platinum Studios chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and Amritraj are producing with Adler.