Most recently behind the Simon Pegg comedy Hector And The Search For Happiness, director Peter Chelsom's next project is rather different. He's just signed up for Second World War thriller The Paladin, telling the story of one of England's youngest assassins.
Adapted from the 1979 novel by Brian Garfield (also the author of Death Wish and The Stepfather), The Paladin is the supposedly true story of the pseudonymous Christopher Creighton, who, following an accidental meeting with Winston Churchill, becomes the Prime Minister's personal spy and assassin at the age of just 15. Before long he's undergoing gruelling training; bombing submarines; providing the vital information leading to the Dunkirk evacuation; and acting as an undercover agent in Germany.
David Dobkin and Jeff Kleeman are among the producers, having previously worked together on Guy Ritchie's The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - although it sounds as if Kingsman: The Secret Service might be more of a touchstone here. Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher and playwrite Eric Pfeffinger penned the screenplay.
Chelsom is currently in post-production on the sci-fi drama The Space Between Us, starring Gary Oldman and Asa Butterfield. That one's due out in the US on July 29. The Paladin doesn't have a start date yet.