No stranger to twisty drama, “Melrose Place” veteran Daphne Zuniga will be making her feature directorial debut with a thriller. Deadline confirms the actress has signed on to helm “The Protegé,” about a woman tracking down her estranged sister’s killer.

Written by Nicole Schubert and Blaine Chiappetta, “The Protegé” centers on Amanda Birch (Jeanette Sousa, “American Housewife”) “who, after three years of estrangement from her family, returns to reconnect with her sister Lauren, the manager of a beloved holistic studio.” The source continues, “Upon her return, things only get worse when her sister Lauren mysteriously dies days later. Soon, the entire family is suspected in a murder investigation as it becomes clear that Lauren’s death was no accident. Amanda leads an investigation of her own to find out who’s responsible for her sister’s murder.”

Breanne Hill (“Frontier”) is among the film’s supporting cast. Autumn Federici and Anthony Melillo are producing, and Marvista Entertainment’s Margret H. Huddleston will serve as executive producer.

Zuniga played Jo Reynolds from 1992-1996 on nighttime soap “Melrose Place.” Her other best-known projects include “Star Wars” spoof “Spaceballs,” ’80s sex comedy “The Sure Thing,” and teen drama “One Tree Hill.” She previously directed the TV doc “TED: The Future We Will Create.”