Paul Haggis (“In the Valley of Elah” and “Crash”) and Michael Nozik signed a deal with United Artists. Haggis and Nozik will produce and Haggis will write and direct projects for the revived label, which recently struck a deal with the WGA. First up will be “Ranger’s Apprentice,” which Haggis will produce with Nozik and write as a potential directing vehicle. Project is based on the fantasy series by Aussie author John Flanagan. The series is about the adventures of an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice ranger and fights to keep the mythical kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders, traitors and other dangers with the help of his master Halt. UA and Hwy61 also optioned the Joseph Weisberg novel “An Ordinary Spy.”