Universal Pictures has picked up the speculative script The Knights Templar from Adam Torchia and Justin Stanley.

The story takes place during the Middle Ages as the eponymous group of Crusaders and guardians of the Holy Grail comes under attack from a vampire army.

The project is currently out to directors. Russia's Timur Bekmambetov, who directed Universal's June 27 release Wanted, will produce with his Bazelevs Productions partner Jim Lemley, but will not direct.

Universal-based Marc Platt will produce through Marc Platt Productions. Adam Siegel is overseeing the project at Marc Platt Productions and Universal's senior vice president of production Scott Bernstein will oversee for the studio.

Platt produced Fox-Walden's 2007 fantasy release The Seekers: The Dark Is Rising and Universal's 2005 family comedy The Perfect Man.

Torchia is represented by Sleeping Giant Entertainment and Stanley is represented by The Caren Bohrman Agency.