AceShowbiz -

Giving a nod to Universal's offer, Lasse Hallstrom has just been confirmed to helm the company's new big screen project of "A Christmas Carol" after it successfully purchased a pitch from Todd Komarnicki, so Variety has reported. Hallstrom is set to make the movie based on Komarnicki's adaptation of Charles Dickens' book of the same title.

While there's still no word on the cast, the movie will be a co-production between the LaHa and Guy Walks Into a Bar with Komarnicki, Leslie Holleran, Jon Berg, plus Karen Tenkhoff lining up as producers. For both Berg and Komarnicki, "Carol" thereby marks their return to a Christmas-themed feature after their collaboration in "Elf" three years ago.

A Swedish-born filmmaker, Hallstrom rose to international attention for his directorial work in Leonardo DiCaprio's 1993 vehicle of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." His upcoming film projects include "The Hoax" and "Daughter of the Queen of Sheba."