Toronto 2012: Aussie Filmmaker Robert Connolly, Gale Anne Hurd Team for 'Shipkiller'

TORONTO -- Aussie filmmaker Robert Connolly, who is making a splash at the Toronto International Film Festival with his Julian Assange film Underground, is set to take on another true-life story.

our editor recommends

Julian Assange Telepic 'Underground' Confirmed for Toronto Film Festival Premiere

Anthony LaPaglia, Rachel Griffiths Cast in Julian Assange TV Movie 'Underground'

The Balibo helmer is attached to direct and produce The Shipkiller, based on New York Times best-selling author Justin Scott’s epic 1978 novel.

Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, The Hulk) is producing through her Valhalla Entertainment shingle. Connolly will produce via his Arenamedia banner. Henry Morrison (the Bourne trilogy) and Andrew Myer are executive producing.

The revenge thriller is set on the high seas, stretching from the titanic storms of the South Atlantic to the oil-slicked reaches of the Persian Gulf, and follows one man determined to win at sea the justice he has been denied on land.

“This is an extraordinary novel that was almost made in 1979 with Sean Connery and David Niven, and I am ecstatic to be working with the remarkably talented Gale Anne Hurd to finally bring this brilliant novel and tale to life,” Connolly said. “Ever since seeing Phillip Noyce’s terrific Dead Calm, I had wanted to find the perfect thriller at sea, and this is surely it.”

Connolly is managed by Jennifer Levine at Untitled.