NORTH COUNTRY - BEAN TO PLAY THE HITCHER

NORTH COUNTRY star SEAN BEAN is to recreate one of cinema's creepiest roles after reportedly signing on to play hitchhiker JOHN RYDER in a remake of thriller THE HITCHER. Bean will take over the villainous role played by RUTGER HAUER in the 1986 cult classic. THE PRINCE + ME star ZACHARY KNIGHTON and ONE TREE HILL favourite SOPHIA BUSH are in negotiations to play the US travellers trying to escape from Bean's Ryder. C THOMAS HOWELL and JENNIFER JASON LEIGH were the original tormented teens. Video director DAVE MEYERS will take charge of the project, according to moviehole.net.