The in-demand British actor whose recent appearances include Margin Call and the upcoming The Words (pictured with Bradley Cooper) is poised to sign on to the supernatural love story.

Previous casting on the project includes Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann, Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert.

Irons would play the role Macon Ravenwood, whose niece moves to a new home where she falls in love with a local boy and helps him uncover secrets about their town.

Richard LaGravenese will direct for Warner Bros-based Alcon Entertainment his adapted screenplay of the New York Times bestseller by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

Alcon recently produced 3D family film Dolphin Tale.