On 15th November 2007, Universal announced that filming of the Cirque Du Freak movie would begin in February 2008. They also announced the names of the first three actors cast in the movie. Here is one of the many media reports of that announcement.

EMPIRE - 15/nov/2007

by Olly Richards

What could we possibly tell you about a movie called Cirque Du Freak that would make you not want to see it? That's one of the best titles we've heard this year. And it's got vampires in it. And now John C. Reilly.

Reilly will play the lead in this adaptation of a children's book series by Darren Shan. Paul Weitz (the one who's not directing The Golden Compass) will call the shots on this story of a vampire who recruits a 14-year-old to be his half-vampire assistant. The boy then becomes a key part in the war between vampires and the Vampanese. We can't actually find an explanation on the interweb of exactly what the vampanese are, but we're pretty sure they must be something good for vampires to be fighting with them. Vampires only fight with good things, like werewolves and priests.