In a bid to resurrect the horror anthology, a cadre of genre directors have signed on to helm segments of Paris, I’ll Kill You, a playful and bloody spin on the art house love fest Paris, je t’aime.

THR reports the project, which is being produced by Instinctive Film and Reverence, will feature shorts by Joe Dante (Gremlins), Paco Plaza ([REC]) Vincenzo Natali (Splice) who helmed the vampire piece, “Quartier de la Madeleine” of Paris, je t’aime [see below], Xavier Gens (Hitman), Ryuhei Kitamura (The Midnight Meat Train), Christopher Smith (Triangle), the directing duo Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (A L’Interieur) and German music video director Joern Heitmann.

While anthologies are always hit or miss by nature, this mix of directors has me optimistic as several of them have helmed enjoyable movies that challenged the boundaries of the horror genre. Dante’s directed fun flicks that blend comedy and horror in the suburbs, like Gremlins and The ‘burbs. Plaza’s brutal [REC] proved so popular it got a sequel and an American remake, Quarantine. Natali created the inventive horror thriller Cube before challenging genre expectation in Splice, and Smith has made a string of intriguing horror including the hilarious and creepy Severance and the mind-bending low budget horror Triangle. While I’m less familiar with the others listed, these directors have shown enough new ideas and striking sequences, that I’d bet Paris, I Kill You will be a hell of a good time.

The producers, which include Darryn Welch, Mathieu Robinet, Chris Ouwinga and Oliver Simon, Daniel Baur and Carl Clifton of K5 Film, will be shopping the project at the American Film Market next week, having secured international sale rights with K5. The pitch posits if Paris, I Kill You is successful, like its inspiration it could expand beyond the city of lights, resulting in a series of “horror city” anthologies.

While I’m often wary of proposed franchises, there are enough provocative horror auteurs on board, that I’m pumped for Paris, I’ll Kill You, though I’m holding out hope for a better title.

Who else would you like to see add a short to Paris, I’ll Kill You?