The stars will play former lovers who must collaborate on the defence team at a terrorism trial. Focus owns worldwide rights and Focus Features International plans to commence pre-sales at the EFM next week ahead of April’s start of production in the UK.

John Crowley of Boy A fame will direct the as-yet-untitled thriller from a screenplay by Steven Knight, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Dirty Pretty Things and also wrote Eastern Promises. Hall starred in Sundance premiere Lay The Favorite and Bana previously teamed up with Focus on Hanna.

Focus CEO James Schamus and Working Title co-chair Tim Bevan are producing with Chris Clark.

“Working Title and John Crowley have not only crafted a nail-biting thriller, but an emotional rollercoaster as well – one that speaks to the heart of the human condition in our time,” Schamus and Focus president Andrew Karpen said.

“We’re excited to be collaborating with John, Steven Knight, and these two terrific actors, and we look forward to the movie entertaining audiences and also getting them talking,” Bevan and Working Title co-chair Eric Fellner said.