Fox has acquired movie rights to a book proposal “The Hunger,” based on the Donner Party tragedy, and tapped Ridley Scott’s son Luke Scott to direct from his own script.

The studio has set the project up with Ridley Scott’s Scott Free company producing. Fox executive Steve Asbell is overseeing “The Hunger.”

The novel is being created by New York-based Paper Lantern Lit with Alma Katsu writing the story, which contains zombie elements. Lauren Oliver and Lexa Hillyer, co-founders of Paper Lantern Lit, will be executive producers on “The Hunger.”

The Donner Party was trapped by deep snow for several months in the Sierra Nevada in late 1846 and early 1847 on its way to California with many resorting to cannibalism in order to survive. Only 48 of the 87 original members survived the winter.

Luke Scott worked as a second unit director on his father’s films “The Martian” and “Exodus: Gods and Kings.” He made his feature directorial debut on the upcoming science-fiction film “Morgan,” which Fox is releasing Sept. 2 with Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Giamatti starring.

UTA reps Scott. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.