STEVEN QUALE BOARDS ‘BLACK BOX (FLIGHT 298)' FROM ‘THE GRUDGE' WRITER STEPHEN SUSCO; CAPSTONE AND HAMMERSTONE STUDIOS PRODUCING (EXCLUSIVE)

Steven Quale, best known for his work on "Into the Storm" and "Final Destination 5," has been tapped to direct Capstone Studios and Hammerstone Studios' "Black Box (Flight 298)." The upcoming supernatural thriller is based on an original screenplay from Stephen Susco, a horror writer whose many genre credits include "The Grudge," "The Grudge 2," "Texas Chainsaw 3D" and "Hell Fest." According to the logline, the film follows the supernatural events surrounding Vero Airlines Flight 298 from New Orleans to Seattle.

Hammerstone Studios' Alex Lebovici ("Barbarian") and Jon Oakes ("The Guilty") will produce alongside Capstone's Christian Mercuri and David Haring ("Bill & Ted Face the Music"), Warren Zide ("The Final Destination" and Susco. Ruzanna Kegeyan and Roman Viaris of Capstone, and Clark Baker will executive produce. Sacker Law will handle production legal services. Principal photography is set to begin this month in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In addition to his work on the "Final Destination" sequel and the 2014 disaster film "Into the Storm," Quale's credits also include the action-thriller "American Renegades." He launched his career as second unit director on two James Cameron blockbusters, "Titanic" and "Avatar."

Most recently, Capstone and Hammerstone collaborated on the upcoming films "Boy Kills World" starring Bill Skarsgård, which opened in theaters on April 26, as well as the horror-thriller "Don't Move" from Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, starring Kelsey Asbille and Finn Wittrock for Netflix.

Quale is represented by Artists First, Gersh, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox. Susco is represented by Gotham Group and Michael Hartman at Ziffren Brittenham.