Michael Gracey to direct THE ORDER OF THE SEVEN

Michael Gracey is making the jump from directing commercials into feature films. He has been hired to helm The Order of the Seven, formerly titled Snow and the Seven. THR reports that the Walt Disney project is "a live-action retelling of the studio's famous Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with a twist: this version will take place in 19th Century China and will deal with an Englishwoman who is protected by a band of international warriors."

Gracey takes over for Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine), who was previously announced. He will shoot from a script penned by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3). Natalie Portman was once attached to play the lead, but it is not currently known if she is still involved. The film is slated to shoot early next year and should arrive with some distance between itself and the rival Snow White features, Snow White and the Huntsman and Tarsem Singh's still-untitled project.

Here is a look at one of his cool commercials for Lipton Ice Tea that stars Hugh Jackman: