Chiwetel Ejiofor has joined the cast of Material Pictures’ and Zik Zak Filmworks’ Z For Zachariah –  a psychological thriller about a girl who believes she is the only survivor after a devastating nuclear event, but comes to learn she is not alone.

Ejiofor will co-star in the adaptation of Robert C. O’Brien’s classic science fiction novel of the same name, alongside Chris Pine and Amanda Seyfried, in a project that will be directed by Craig Zobel (Compliance) from a script penned by Nissar Modi. 

Material Pictures’ Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe will produce alongside Zik Zak Filmworks’ Skúli Malmquist, Thor Sigurjonsson and Palomar Pictures’ Joni Sighvatsson. 

Gary Ross and Lucky Hat Entertainment’s Stephen Bannatyne will executive produce, along with Silver Reel’s Claudia Bluemhuber and Lotus Entertainment’s Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson. 

The project is will be shopped at Cannes this week.

Shooting will begin in August.

Up next for Chiwetel? The starring role in Steve McQueen’s highly-anticipated Twelve Years A Slave.