A modern version of Frankenstein is in the works.

X-Men producer Ralph Winter and former Vanguard Films president Terry Botwick are working on the project after acquiring the rights to Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein. Instead of the traditional setting for the horror character, the movie - which could be turned into a franchise - will be set in modern day New Orleans.

“These books have enough twists and turns to keep the public coming back to the theaters for many years to come,” Ralph told Variety.

So far three Frankenstein books have been published by Koontz. Prodigal Son, published in 2005, was followed by City of Night and Dead and Alive. Lost Souls will be released in June while two other books will debut in 2011 and 2012.

The stories focus on a socially prominent doctor and businessperson who creates super-human Deucalion.

Robert De Niro previously played the role of The Creature in the 1994 version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. No casting announcements have yet been made for the new adaptation.