It appears that The Walking Dead won't be the only indie comics hit to enjoy new life as a critically acclaimed television series with big-time talent behind the scenes. At least on paper, a new TV series based on IDW Publishings Locke & Key looks like a surefire hit, with Mark Romanek in talks to direct the pilot written by Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Josh Friedman. The series would be produced for the Fox network by Steven Spielberg along with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, and will apparently star The Lord of the Rings' Miranda Otto.

Created by writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, Locke & Key is the story of Nina Locke, a widow moves her three children to their family's ancestral home after the violent death of her husband. Set in a town called Lovecraft, Massachusetts, the spooky mansion contains supernatural mysteries, most notably magical portals and keys that facilitate the Locke family's adventures. Meanwhile, a man connected to the murder of Nina's husband conspires with an evil force to make life very unpleasant for Nina and her kids.

The title, structured as a series of miniseries, has been a hit for IDW, with multiple printings and awards, including the 2009 Eisner for Best Limited Series and a 2009 British Fantasy Award for Best Graphic Novel.

Having directed such memorably haunting music videos as "Closer" and "The Perfect Drug" for Nine Inch Nails, "Bedtime Stories" for Madonna and "Hurt" for Johnny Cash (not to mention the feature film One Hour Photo), Mark Romanek would seem to be an inspired choice to helm the Locke & Key pilot.

No premiere date has been announced.

[Via i09, BleedingCool]