John David Washington has been primed for a starring role in an upcoming Italian thriller film from the team behind Call Me By Your Name. He will lead the pic alongside Alicia Vikander.

Per Deadline, who first broke the news, the film is set in Athens and the Epirus region of Greece, “where a vacationing couple, played by Washington and Vikander, fall trap to a violent conspiracy with tragic consequences.” Production is already underway in Greece.

Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino is producing, bringing in much of his team behind the Oscar-nominated film that starred Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer. Marco Morabito, his frequent collaborator will also produce. Ferdinando Cito Filomarino will direct the film. He was the second unit director for Guadagnino’s Suspiria, Call Me By Your Name and A Bigger Splash. He made his feature directorial debut with 2015’s Antonia. Kevin Rice will pen the script.

“Born to Be Murdered is my take on the manhunt thriller, as inspired by so many movies and books I always admired. I have worked for years in creating its specific tone and story with the tireless support of my writer Kevin Rice, and I am honored to have the extraordinary John David Washington join me to portray the restless and conflicted journey of such a special character. I am thrilled to be working with the wonderful Alicia Vikander, the beautifully intense Vicky Krieps, the superb Boyd Holbrook. With this incredible cast and with my unique collaborators, Born to Be Murdered will be a fantastic experience that pushes genre to a new place,” said Filomarino.

In a statement, Guadagnino, Morabito, Melzi, and Moratti said: “We have been working with Ferdinando for ten years, following and supporting his career since the beginning. He is an exciting new voice in international cinema, and with Born To Be Murdered, he has the chance to be embraced in a bigger scope and in partnership with such a prestigious cast, composed of some of the best and most interesting performers in the world, especially the wonderful John David Washington whom we believe is one of the most compelling performers around.”

Washington, who garnered critical acclaim for his role in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, will also star in the secretive new film from Christopher Nolan that will be released in 2020. He also stars in HBO’s Ballers.

READ MORE:

John David Washington To Star In Upcoming, Top-Secret Film From Christopher Nolan

‘BlacKkKlansman’ Proves John David Washington Has Always Been Working Towards This Moment

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Vicky Krieps

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