Frank Miller will adapt anddirect Will Eisner's influential comic strip The Spirit for Los Angeles-based Odd Lot Entertainment.

Miller, whose credits include Sin City and the upcoming graphic novel adaptation 300, will attend the comic book convention COMIC-Con onJul 22 to discuss the project.

Odd Lot principals Deborah Del Prete and Gigi Pritzker will co-finance, and areproducing along with Batfilm Productions' Michael Uslan. Batfilm co-founderBenjamin Melniker will serve as executive producer.

The Spirit tells of a maskeddetective believed to be dead who operates out of a mausoleum and fights crimein Central City with his fists, cunning and ingenious forms of punishment.

Eisner's character first appeared in 1940 and ran as a comic strip for decades.Many of the strips have been collected and reprinted in hardcover by DC Comicsin recent years.

"With his first film, Miller made Sin City live and breathe by capturing the look and style of hissourcematerial and expertly guiding an all-star cast," Del Prete said. "We cannotwait to see how he utilises his endless talents in bringing Eisner's vision of TheSpirit to the screen."

Odd Lot's head of business affairs Laura Ivey negotiated the deal on behalf ofthe producers. Miller is represented by Mark Lichtman at Shapiro-Lichtman, andattorney Harris Miller.