Boogeyman, thefirst picture to be backed by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and SenatorInternational's genre label Ghost House Pictures, has begun filming inAuckland, New Zealand.

Barry Watson (SororityBoys, 7th Heaven) has been cast in the lead role of a manwho returns to his childhood home to confront a terrifying power.

Marcy Morris and Jeff Bernstein at Armstrong Hirschnegotiated on behalf of Watson, who is represented by ICM and managed by MaryGoldberg.

Emily Deschanel(Cold Mountain), ToryMussett (The Matrix Reloaded, Peter Pan), Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) and Skye McCole Bartusiak (Don't SayA Word) will also star.

Raimi and Tapert are producing the film, which is beingfully financed by Senator International. Screen Gems will release theatricallyin North America.

Stephen Kay,whose credits include the remake of Get Carter and The Last Time I Committed Suicide, is directing.

The screenplaywas written by Eric Kripke, Juliet Snowden, Stiles White and Darren Lemke.

"Screen Gems is thrilled to keep Sam Raimi in the Sonyfamily, and we hope that this is only the first of many successfulcollaborations with Sam and Rob Tapert," Clint Culpepper, president of ScreenGems, said in a statement.

Ghost House'sslate includes The Grudge, the English-language remake of the hit Japanese film Ju-on, which is due to go into production thisautumn, and the vampire thriller 30 Days Of Night.

ColumbiaPictures is co-developing 30 Days Of Night and will also handle North American distribution andseveral international territories.

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