The story focuses on Alex Gates, a patient dying of a terminal disease who is resigned to his fate … until he discovers that his malignant tumor is actually a mysterious alien parasite. Now with some incredible powers and a renewed purpose, Gates is tasked with fighting a secret army lurking behind the veils of society while also peeling back his own secrets.

Zak Olkewicz wrote the script for the adaptation.

Adam Yoelin of Boom! is co-producing. Jeff Fierson, Peyton's partner at their Factory Backwards shingle, will executive produce. Matt Reilly and Ryan Jones are overseeing for Fox.

Boom!’s film arm has The Empty Man in preproduction, while Adam McKay recently came on board to develop and direct an adaptation of its comic Irredeemable.

Wan co-wrote and directed Conjuring 2, which scared up almost $40.4 million as it opened in first place over the weekend. The in-demand filmmaker produced Lights Out, another horror movie that New Line will open July 22, and he is set to direct Aquaman for Warner Bros.

Peyton’s San Andreas, the earthquake disaster pic that starred Dwayne Johnson, grossed $473 million worldwide. The director recently wrapped shooting Frontier, a series set in the 18th century world of the North American fur trade, for Netflix and is due to reteam with Johnson for New Line's adaptation of the video game Rampage.

Peyton is repped by CAA and Peikoff Mahan.