Hill's novel is an excellent read, a page-turner that runs with its fun premise while also slowly, confidently revealing an attention to character that elevates it above a standard supernatural thriller. It's the sort of book that's impossible not to imagine becoming a movie even as you read it.

And it's well on it's way to becoming a movie, with production set to begin this fall under the direction of Alexandre Aja.  Aja, the French filmmaker behind 2003's High Tension and the recent The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha remakes, joined the project last December.  He's working from a screenplay by Keith Bunin, the playwright who scripted the HBO series In Treatment.

Before Aja boarded Horns, Shia LaBeouf was actually attached to star as Ig Perrish, but sometime between March and December of last year, he exited the film for unspecified reasons.

Now, the young man affectionately known as D-Rad will take on the role, and his involvement is most promising.  Hill, who also wrote Heart-Shaped Box and the ongoing comic series Locke & Key, tweeted his thoughts on the casting, saying, "Very happy to have HORNS filming this fall with Alexandre Aja behind the camera and Daniel Radcliffe in front of it as Ig. Happy & excited."

Here's the full press release on Radcliffe joining Horns:

Los Angeles, CA – July 13, 2012 – Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter” franchise, “The Woman in Black”) has signed on to star in the supernatural fantasy/thriller “Horns,” which will be co-produced and financed by Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland’s Los Angeles based film production, finance and international sales company Red Granite Pictures. Red Granite will co-produce the film with Mandalay Pictures.

Based on the best-selling novel by Joe Hill, “Horns” is being directed by Alexandre Aja (“The Hills Have Eyes,” “Piranha 3D,” “High Tension”) from an adapted screenplay by Keith Bunin (“In Treatment”). Producers are Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland, Mandalay Pictures President Cathy Schulman and Adam Stone. Joe Hill and Red Granite’s Joe Gatta are executive producers.

“Horns,” a supernatural thriller driven by fantasy, mystery and romance, follows Ig Perrish (Radcliffe), the number one suspect for the violent rape and murder of his girlfriend. Hungover from a night of hard drinking, Ig awakens one morning to find horns starting to grow from his own head and soon realizes their power drives people to confess their sins and give in to their most selfish and unspeakable impulses – an effective tool in his quest to discover the true circumstances of his late girlfriend’s tragedy and for exacting revenge on her killer.

This rock and roll infused dark fantasy explores why bad things happen to good people, and what the loss of true love can do to a man. The widely acclaimed book was on the New York Times best seller list for six weeks, and has become an international bestseller as well.

Additional casting is underway as principal photography is slated to begin this fall. Red Granite Pictures’ international sales arm (Red Granite International) will handle foreign sales for the film.

Director Alex Aja sees “Horns” as a character driven metaphysical and emotional fable with the structural bones of a mystery/revenge thriller. He says, “After reading Joe Hill’s cult book, I couldn’t resist temptation to dive into the devilish underworld and reinvent a universal myth. ‘Horns’ is a wild ride of sin and crime, with a love story in its heart.”

“’Horns’ is a wildly unique thriller that’s ripe for the big screen,” said Red Granite principals Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland. “Daniel is an amazing talent who will deliver a gripping performance with Alex at the helm. “We’re happy to be working with Mandalay and Joe Hill to bring this project to life

Said Schulman, “We’re thrilled to be in business with Riza, Joey and the Red Granite team. They are partners willing to put their strength behind provocative and fresh projects. Alex Aja is the perfect director to bring this chilling story to life.”