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Lakeshore, the production-financing outfit behind the “Underworld” movie series, is readying what it hopes will be its next action-horror franchise, “I, Frankenstein.”

The company has preemptively picked up the script for the comic book adaptation from Death Ray Films, which began developing the project in April.

The project has “Underworld” roots. It’s based on a comic from “Underworld” co-creator Kevin Grevioux, who wrote the script for “Frankenstein,” and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” helmer Patrick Tatopoulos is attached to direct.

The project brings together classic monster characters — including the Frankenstein monster and Dracula — in a contemporary film noir setting.

The monster, for example, has evolved; he has learned how to control his anger and is a private investigator. Dracula, meanwhile, is a crime kingpin. The story sees the monster as the only thing standing between the human race and an uprising of supernatural creatures.

Lakeshore's Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi and Richard Wright are producing. Grevioux is exec producing with Death Ray’s Robert Sanchez. Chris Patton and Ryan Turek of horror Web site ShockTilYouDrop.com helped develop the project. A July start is being eyed.