Matilda Lutz Leads "Rings"

Italian actress Matilda Lutz ("The Fifth Wheel") will play the female lead in "Rings," the next installment in the Ring franchise says The Wrap.

Gore Verbinski's (Pirates of the Caribbean film trilogy) The Ring kicked off a wave of Asian horror movie remakes-topping $100 million at the box office The premise centered around a mysterious videotape that, when watched, kills the viewer a week after the person has watched it. Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox starred

 The film was a hit, boasting good reviews and $249 million at the global box-office. The Ring Two, helmed by "Ringu" director Hideo Nakata was a dud making only $160 million worldwide.

The next film will feature a brand new cast--Watts is not expected to return.

The story is said to still feature the tormented Samara and a deadly videotape, but no further specifics have been released including details about Lutz's character.

F. Javier Gutierrez has signed on to direct the project which David Loucka, Jacob Aaron Estes and Akiva Goldsman have worked on.

Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, who produced the previous two films, are in talks to return to produce this film as well.