Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures has signed a seven-figure deal with 30-year-old Uruguayan director Fede Alverez to helm a giant robot invasion film based on his short Ataque de Panico (Panic Attack). The short, which had been circulating online, quickly drew the interest of Hollywood studios looking to produce the next low-budget blockbuster (think Paranormal Activity or District 9).

Alverez, a commercials director in his homeland, filmed the four minute 48 second short for a reported $300-to-$500. Raimi will mentor Alverez during the production much like Peter Jackson did with Neill Blomkamp on District 9. Ghost House is now looking for a writer to pen the script.

I dunno. I like the short, I’m not buying it. I think this project was already in place and this whole little-filmmaker-that-could story is just part of a very savvy marketing campaign designed to rally up the geek interest. What do you guys think?