Malcolm McDowell and director Steven C. Miller have signed abroad a remake of TriStar Pictures' 1984 film "Silent Night, Deadly Night," according to Variety.

Titled "Silent Night," the remake is spearheaded by The Genre Company and Inferno International's Ember Productions with Miller ("Scream of the Banshee," "The Aggression Scale") set to direct from a script by executive producer Jayson Rothwell ("Malice in Wonderland").

The film will start principal photography next month and will eye a holiday release.

"Silent Night" is a loose adaption of director Charles E. Sellier, Jr.'s controversial film and centers on a killer Santa Claus stalking a Midwestern town on Christmas Eve as the police department scrambles to end his reign of terror. McDowell ("A Clockwork Orange," 2007's "Halloween") will play the sheriff.

Producers for the remake include Richard Saperstein ("The Mist"), Brian Witten ("Final Destination"), Shara Kay ("Mother's Day") and Phyllis Laing ("The Haunting in Connecticut"). Gary Preisler, Thomas M. Kastelz and Steve Ruff will executive produce, with D.J. Gugenheim and Armen Aghaeian taking on co-producing duties.

The original "Silent Night, Deadly Night" launched four sequels, which concluded with 1991's "Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker."