Chase Novak aka Scott Spencer wrote the novel and Summit has hired Burr Steers to write and direct the horror thriller. David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford of Heyday Films will produce. 

Breed follows a couple who desperately seek a cure after an experimental fertility treatment turns them into bloodthirsty savages.

Steers most recently directed Charlie St Cloud and 17 Again. His writing credits include How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and Igby Goes Down, which he also directed.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president of production Erik Feig, Summit Entertainment president of production Geoff Shaevitz and Lionsgate director of development Jina Jones will oversee Breed for the studio.

Lionsgate’s evp of business affairs Robert Melnik negotiated the deal on behalf of the studio with CAA representing Novak in conjunction with Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

Breed marks Summit’s second deal with Heyday Films following the acquisition in January 2011 of worldwide film and television rights to The Night Circus. Moira Buffini is currently writing the script for that film based on Erin Morgenstern’s novel.