Anton Yelchin, riding high on the global success of Star Trek, has been cast opposite Milla Jovovich in Seven Arts Pictures’ period thriller The Winter Queen.

Seven Arts COO Kate Hoffman said financing was in place on the long-gestating project and filming was set to commence this summer in St Petersburg, Russia and Budapest, Hungary.

It will be directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk, whose credits include Russian blockbuster Inhabited Island, and will tell the story of a Moscow investigator who uncovers an international conspiracy.

Thomas Hedman and Alan Marshall are producing the film, which was initially set up several years ago for Paul Verhoeven to direct.

Hoffman’s EFM slate includes the relationship drama Men Don’t Lie, Arthurian knights epic Mortal Armor and the $60m cyberpunk adaptation Neuromancer, to be directed by Joseph Kahn.