Denzel Washington will star in Alcon Entertainment and Silver Pictures' post-apocalyptic thriller The Book Of Eli that Allen and Albert Hughes will direct.

Based on an original story by Gary Whitta and a rewrite by Anthony Peckham, the story takes place in the near future in an American wasteland where a lone warrior holds the key to society's redemption. Warner Bros holds North American rights.

Alcon will finance and co-produce with Silver Pictures. This is the Hughes brothers' first film since 2001's From Hell.

Joel Silver will produce with Washington, Susan Downey and Alcon co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. Filming is set to commence in January in New Mexico.

'This is an epic tale, a thriller set in a future uninviting yet hopeful, and its hero could not be better suited to Denzel Washington,' Johnson and Kosove said. 'The Hughes brothers will bring a bold, contemporary edge to the story and we're excited to have this be our next film.'