David Dobkin has signed to direct "RIPD," an adaptation of a Dark Horse comic book, for Universal Pictures. Neal H. Moritz and Dark Horse's Mike Richardson are producing.

Written by Peter M. Lenkov, the 1999 comic centers on the Rest in Peace Department, the dedicated yet dead police officers who patrol the dead beat, made up of the deceased who refuse to go quietly. The story focuses on a cop who joins the department after being murdered and his search for the man who set him up as he does his duty fighting fiendish creatures.

The comic had been in development for some time at the studio but got resurrected by a new take by Dobkin. Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi are writing the adaptation.

Lenkov will executive produce.

Dobkin, repped by CAA and attorney Warren Dern, is best known for directing last year's "Wedding Crashers." He also directed "Shanghai Knights" and "Clay Pigeons."

Hay and Manfredi co-wrote "Aeon Flux" and "Crazy/Beautiful." The duo are repped by UTA and attorney Alan Grodin.

Universal vp production Scott Bernstein and CE David Ortiz are overseeing the project.