GOLD COAST, Queensland -- Guy Pearce has been confirmed as the lead in historical drama "The Proposition," based on a screenplay by musician, writer and occasional actor Nick Cave, and set to shoot in Australia in six weeks, with John Hillcoat directing.

Producer Chris Brown described the official Australia-United Kingdom co-production as "an epic Australian story about family, loyalty and betrayal ... a sort of gothic Western that is to Australia what 'Unforgiven' was to America." The film is set circa 1812.

Brown is collaborating on the project with Jackie O'Sullivan in Australia and Cat Villiers and Chiara Menage of Britain's Autonomous Films. While Brown could not confirm further cast he said there is likely to be at least one major British actor attached.

Peace's credits include "Memento," "L.A. Confidential" and "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." He is represented in America by ICM.

Hillcoat's other credits include "To Have and to Hold" and "Alleys and Motorways." He also has collaborated with Cave on various projects, including the 1988 film "Ghosts ... of the Civil Dead."

Menage produced the dark British biopic "Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon" and "Kiss of Life."

Villiers' credits include the Oscar-winning foreign language title "No-Man's Land" as well as "Saving Grace" and "Before the Rain" (which she produced with O'Sullivan).

Brown, who heads up Pictures in Paradise, has producer credits on 24 films including "Mona Lisa," "Under the Radar" and "The Company of Wolves."