Renee Zellweger is swapping horror movies. Originally slated to star in the scary movie The Eye, she's dropped it in favor of a different film of terror. She's signed up for Paramount Pictures' horror thriller Case 39 according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The script is written by Ray Wright, who also wrote the American version of the Japanese horror movie Pulse, due out later this year. But this one doesn't seem to be another import adaptation.

In it, Zellweger will star as an idealistic social worker who saves a 10-year-old girl from abusive parents only to discover strange things are afoot. The movie is scheduled to start shooting July 31st, assuming they can find a director before then.

Assuming they'll find a director might be kind of a big assumption. Case 39 has been hanging around in production limbo since earlier last year, and until the casting of Zellweger hasn't really gone anywhere. But with a big name now officially on board, expect it to leap out of development hell and on to the fast track.

Known primarily for romantic movies and mushy roles that give her plenty of reason to cry and put to use her permanent squint, it's been awhile since Renee has tackled anything resembling horror. But with the genre making money hand over fist, the scary movie business is the place to be. Renee's last horror role was long before she was famous. She appeared in 1994's The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It wasn't until 1996's Jerry Maguire that anyone would really pay any attention to her.