The film, which started shooting on May 13, is based on Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ 1993 non-fictional novel about Black Ops soliders.

Robert De Niro (pictured) has joined Jason Statham and Clive Owen in action thriller $58m The Killer Elite, which started production in Melbourne last week.

The project, which Gary McKendry is directing, is being financed by Omnilab Media and Inferno Entertainment are handling the international sales.

The Killer Elite follows the exploits of a group of Black Ops agents for hire who must hunt down and destroy a rogue cell of SAS killer assassins and their covert handlers. The script is based on Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ 1993 non fiction novel The Feather Men.

“We are absolutely delighted to have the iconic Robert De Niro join our already star-studded cast of Jason Statham and Clive Owen.  The film’s extensive cast also includes top flight Australian actors Dominic Purcell, Yvonne Strahovski, Ben Mendelsohn, Aden Young and newcomer Firass Dirani,” said Christopher Mapp, Omnilab MD.

Omnilab has completed the financing for the picture with rebate assistance from Film Victoria and the Australian producer offset. The film will be produced by Michael Boughen through Omnilab’s Australian production arm, Ambience Entertainment. Mapp will be executive producer on the film along with Omnilab’s Matthew Street and David Whealy; Cinemarket’s Peter D. Graves and Current Entertainment’s Steve Chasman. Veteran producer Joni Sighvatsson will serve as the film’s UK producer.