Nicolas Chartier and his team are Cannes-bound with the sci-fi thriller that music video and television director Joe Miale will direct.

Alex Russell is in negotiations to star alongside Bérénice Marlohe in the story of a US soldier and French foreign aid worker in Africa who team up in humanity’s last stand against an alien invasion.

Prisoner Of War is scheduled to commence production in South Africa in September.

Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones is producing alongside 42’s Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh and Tea Shop & Film Company’s James Harris.

Zev Foreman and Nicolas Chartier also produce for Voltage. Mark Lane will co-produce for Tea Shop & Film.

“Joe’s vision for this movie embodies what Sci-fi storytelling is all about,” said Kavanaugh-Jones. “I couldn’t be more excited about working with Joe, Voltage, 42 and the rest of the team in bringing this incredible world to life.”

Prisoner Of War is set in an imaginative and dangerous world, with a story that is both epic and intimate – much along the lines of District 9 or the first Terminator,” said Chartier.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Brian Kavanaugh-Jones as he has a great eye for discovering up-and-coming talent. We are firm believers in Joe Miale’s vision and look forward to establishing a new science-fiction franchise with him.”

Voltage represents US rights with Kavanaugh-Jones.