What was once just a rumor is now reality. Variety reports that Naomi Watts is locked to star in the Michael Bay-produced remake of "The Birds." It was also announced that Martin Campbell, who helmed the relaunch of the James Bond franchise with "Casino Royale," is on board to refashion Alfred Hitchcock's classic for the 21st century. The spin on this flick is that it won't be directly based on its 1963 predecessor. Instead, Universal Pictures plans on a closer reimagining of Daphne du Maurier's original short story. And unlike many other projects scrambling to shoot within the next six months, the studio is not expecting this flick to begin production until after a possible Screen Actors Guild strike is averted, which works well for both Watts and Campbell's schedules.

Watts recently starred in David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises" and is currently filming the Tom Tykwer thriller "The International" opposite Clive Owen. She'll follow that up with First Look's adaptation of Amy Sutherland's novel "Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premiere School for Exotic Animal Trainers." In February, moviegoers will find her on-screen in Michael Haneke's English-language remake of his own film "Funny Games." Add "King Kong" to the mix and Watts is becoming the queen of remakes.

After the critical and commercial success of "Royale," Campbell suddenly became in vogue again. He's expected to direct Twentieth Century Fox's runaway train action flick, "Unstoppable," and then the crime thriller "36" for Paramount Pictures.

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