Metro International’s thriller is written and directed by Wilson Coneybeare.

Brian Cox and Martin Freeman will star in American Hangman.

Metro International’s US-based thriller is written and directed by playwright and documentarian Wilson Coneybeare, and centures on a kidnap plot that exploits the dark side of social media.

The Canadian/Irish co-production is being produced by Coneybeare, Meredith Fowler, Jeremy Tebbett and Colin Tebbett for a 2015 release.

Coneybeare commented: “I am thrilled to be able to work with talents as formidable as Martin Freeman and Brian Cox. The two will be together in every scene, playing off one another in a very tense situation, and I think everyone will relish the fireworks created by these two artists at the top of their game.”

“We have been working with the team developing this project for a number of years, and are delighted with the level of cast we have attracted,” added Will Machin of Metro International.

“It’s an original and gripping commercial thriller that works on a number of levels and it’s fantastic to have our belief in the project confirmed by the initial response from distributors.”

Metro International are introducing the project to buyers in Cannes, with production due to commence in September.