Adulthood writer/director/star Noel Clarke is working with Lionsgate UK to develop his next project, 83.

Lionsgate UK announced earlier this year that it planned to co-produce and co-finance two to three British features per year; there are three other previously announced films in development but 83 could be the first to shoot in early 2009.

The project is a sci-fi film set in contemporary London, about the disappearance of 83 passengers on a London tube and the dark secret revealed by this phenomenon.

Producers are Lionsgate UK, Clarke, Damian Jones and George Isaac for Unstoppable Entertainment.

Nick Manzi will lead the production for Lionsgate UK; Lionsgate's international sales company Mandate is also on board.

Clarke said: 'I'm honoured and excited by the opportunity Lionsgate UK have given me for my next movie. Lionsgate UK are investing in me as a filmmaker, allowing me to take my creativity and audience in new and exciting directions. '

Clarke is also an actor who starred in Adulthood, Kidulthood (which he also wrote), and Doctor Who.

Zygi Kamasa, CEO of Lionsgate, said: 'Noel has conceived a hugely imaginative and commercial British story that we've rarely seen from a British Filmmaker. We couldn't be more excited therefore to be working with such a new British talent who really get what audiences want and this fits perfectly into our ambition to be producing and financing two to three British films per year.'

Lyndsey Posner and Josh Varney at Independent Talent Group negotiated the deal on behalf of Unstoppable Entertainment; Zygi Kamasa, Guy Avshalom and Nick Manzi negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate UK.

The other projects in the Lionsgate production pipeline, announced in late April, are Stiff by Dan Mazer, Emily-Jane Secret Mum as a co-production with Elton John and David Furnish's Rocket Pictures; and Debbie Issit's The Choir.