Roy Lee and Doug Davison'sprolific LA-based production outfit Vertigo Entertainment has secured thebacking of venture capitalist Robert Hoff and his new company RightOffEntertainment to fully finance The Echo, aremake of 2004 Filipino thriller Sigaw.

Hoff, a general partner atCrosspoint Venture Partners since 1983, will executive produce the film whileLee and Davison will produce alongside Shintaro Shimosawa and Tyler Mitchell.

Yam Laranas, who co-wrote anddirected the original Sigaw, willdirect the remake from a screenplay by Eric Bernt, who also wrote the upcomingRogue Pictures/Platinum Dunes remake of The Hitcher. Bernt will also serve as executive producer.

The Echo is the story of an ex-con who moves into an old apartmentbuilding only to learn that his neighbour is an abusive police officer whosavagely beats his wife and daughter. When he tries to intervene, he becomesstricken by a curse that he can't escape from.

The film is scheduled to startshooting on March 19, 2007, in New York City.

Vertigo was the company behind TheRing, The Grudge and The Departed, all remakes of Asian films. Currently in production are TheStrangers for Universal, Sassy Girl with Gold Circle and Addicted for Yari Film Group. Vertigoalso produced The Invasion starringNicole Kidman which is now scheduled for an Aug 2007 release.