Rapper/Actor Common and Chinese actress Xu Qing (“Looper”) have joined Ethan Hawke in the upcoming thriller “24 Hours to Live,” which Brian Smrz is directing.

Leading Chinese production and distribution outfit Fundamental Films and Thunder Road Pictures are backing the project, with principal photography set to commence this June in Cape Town, South Africa, with Sierra/Affinity continuing international sales at Cannes.

Penned by Zachary Dean and based on an original script from Ron Mita & Jim McClain, “24 Hours to Live” follows a career assassin who is given a chance at redemption after his employer brings him back to life temporarily, just after being killed on the job.

Common, who will take the part of ‘Morrow’ in the film.

Basil Iwanyk of Thunder Road, Fundamental Films Chairman Mark Gao and International president Gregory Ouanhon are producing the film, with Fundamental fully financing. Jon Kuyper, Kent Kubena, Jonathan Fuhrman, and Gary Glushon executive produced.

Mark Gao, Chairman of Fundamental Films said, “Both Common and Xu Qing are esteemed talents in their fields and we can’t wait to see them come together with Ethan Hawke in shaping this action-packed, explosive feature.”

Basil Iwanyk, founder of Thunder Road Pictures said, “Thunder Road is thrilled to have the enormously talented Common and Xu Qing join our friend Ethan Hawke in this fantastic project.”

Common will next be seen in Warner Bros. anticipated “Suicide Squad.”

Common is represented by CAA, manager Derek Dudley, and Myman Greenspan. Xu Qing is represented by Summer Pictures Entertainment.

“24 Hours to Live” is the latest collaboration between Fundamental Films and Thunder Road Pictures, with Scott Waugh’s Outlaws Inc. announced earlier this year.

Fundamental Films continues to grow beyond distribution in the Chinese market, becoming an international player in film financing, funding and the co-production of international projects. The company is currently working on a number of local and international productions, including Luc Besson’s big-budget graphic-novel “Valerian,” (wchi Rihanna and Herbie Hancock both have parts in), where Fundamental is the main financier, Matthias Hoene’s “Warrior’s Gate,” and Harald Zwart’s “Rally Car” Starring Keanu Reeves.