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Alexandre Aja is set to direct "The Contractor," a drama for Gaumont.

Ian Jeffers is rewriting the script. Alexandra Milchan will produce.

Story is set in a world where the U.S. government can no longer afford to fight wars and authorizes private contractors to send a band of elite soldiers on missions around the world.

Jeffers recently wrote "The Grey" and rewrote "Castlevania" for Rogue and director Sylvain White.

Aja will tackle the project after he completes "Piranha 3-D" for Dimension Films. The fish pic follows Aja's "Mirrors" and "The Hills Have Eyes."

The film reteams him with Milchan, who produced "Mirrors."