Justin Kurzel to Direct John Le Carre Adaptation

LONDON – Aussie director Justin Kurzel is to direct Our Kind of Traitor from a script penned by Hoss Amini (Drive) based on John le Carre’s novel of the same name.

Amini's script made it onto the Brit list of hot unproduced projects last year and the movie is now out to cast and finance following Kurzel's decision to direct.

Kurzel's resume includes last-year's award-winning coruscating crime drama Snowtown, starring Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall and Louise Harris.

U.K. banners The Ink Factory and Potboiler Productions will produce the movie, which is being developed with cash from U.K. broadcaster Channel 4's movie-making arm Film4.

Billed as a contemporary thriller, Traitor centers on the relationship between a young couple and a charismatic Russian criminal they are persuaded to help defect.

Backers aim to shoot the film, set in London, Paris, Moscow and Tangiers, in the fall this year.

The film will be produced by Stephen Cornwell and Simon Cornwell with Rhodri Thomas for The Ink Factory and Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood for Potboiler Productions.

Film4 chief Tessa Ross will exec produce along with John le Carre.

Kurzel is repped by Kate Richter at HLA in Australia, Maha Dakhil, Rowena Arguelles and Jay Baker at CAA, and is managed by Tom Lassally at 3 Arts Entertainment

WME and Curtis Brown represent Amini.