Los Angeles, CA: Australian star Melissa George has been announced today as the female lead in Sam Raimi’s 30 Days of Night – the film version of the best selling graphic novels of the same name. George joins Josh Hartnett, who has been attached to the project since early 2006, to complete the casting of the two main roles.

The film begins shooting in New Zealand at the start of August and will run through to November. After completion, Raimi is expected to complete post-production work on next summer’s eagerly anticipated Spider-Man 3.

30 Days of Night began life as a comic-book mini series by writer Steve Niles and illustrator Ben Templesmith back in 2002. The original novel has been followed by several sequels, including the stories Dark Days, Return to Barrow and Bloodsucker Tales, with Raimi retaining the rights to any further movie adaptations. Whilst known most famously for his work directing the Spider-Man films, Sam Raimi has a long history of cult horror movies under his belt, including the fan-favorite Evil Dead movies.

Hartnett and George will take the husband and wife roles of Sheriff Eben Olemaun and Deputy Sheriff Stella Olemaun, protectors of the peace in the remote Alaskan town of Barrow. The town is so far north that during the winter the sun doesn’t rise for 30 days, making it a haven for the world’s vampire population. The sheriff and his wife are part of the town’s folk who manage to escape the vampire’s clutches long enough to form a plan to fight back. Further casting for the film will be announced shortly.

George was most recently seen opposite Clive Owen in the thriller Derailed, and has several completed movies set for release in 2006/07, including The Music Within opposite Ron Livingston, Turistas (recently acquired by Fox Atomic) and WAZ opposite Stellan Skarsgard and Selma Blair. However, she is probably most well remembered for her role as the duplicitous Lauren Reed in ABC’s Alias. More information on the film, along with all her other work can be found at Melissa George’s official website, http://www.melissageorge.com/.

George’s previous credits include: Waz (2007), The Music Within (2006), Turistas (2006), Derailed (2005), The Amityville Horror (2005), Alias (TV) (2003-4), Down With Love (2003), Lost in Oz (TV Pilot) (2002), Thieves (TV) (2001), New Port South (2001), Mulholland Drive (2001), Sugar and Spice (2001), The Limey (1999), Dark City (1998), Roar (TV) (1997) and Home and Away (TV) (1993-96).