Orlando Bloom joins Bond Girl on 'The Cross'

Vincent Cassel and Olga Kurylenko will co-star for director Andrew Niccol

By HitFix Staff Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 10:38 PM

Orlando Bloom

Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Orlando Bloom, Vincent Cassel and Olga Kurylenko are set to star in the sci-fi thriller "The Cross."

According to Variety, the project will be written and directed by Andrew Niccol ("Lord of War") and will begin production in July in Australia. The film is said to have a $24 million budget.

Set in the near future, Bloom will play a man who attempts to cross some sort of mysterious border. Cassell will play the guard attempting to stop him, while Kurylenko will play the female lead.

Financing comes courtesy of Australia's Bluewater Pics, France's Spangherabero Films and Germany's Opal Film Produktion.

Beyond his starring roles in the three "Pirates of the Caribbean" and three "Lord of the Rings" films, Bloom has been relatively selective. His other credits include "Elizabethtown" and "Kingdom of Heaven."

Kurylenko has played ultra-violent eye candy in "Hitman," "Max Payne" and "Quantum of Solace."

American audiences will recognize Cassel from "Eastern Promises," "Ocean's Twelve" and "Derailed."