After many years in development hell, it seems as if a movie based on Steve Alten’s prehistoric shark novel Meg is finally on its way.

Alten’s book was originally published in 1997, chronicling the battle against a Megalodon, a prehistoric being that mysteriously resurfaces from geothermal layers of the oceans' deepest gorge. Disney acquired the screen rights before publication, but the project was put in turnaround when Warner Brothers released Deep Blue Sea in 1999.

New Line worked on a screenplay between 2004 and 2006 with Jan De Bont attached as director. However, they couldn’t find a way to make the film work at $100million.

Apelles Publishing has now optioned the rights from Alten with Hellboy II and Watchmen producers Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin overseeing the project.