UK National Lottery franchise DNA Films has pacted with independent UK producer Lucy Darwin to develop and produce Leonardo Secret Agent, an action adventure comedy.

Written by Jonny Kurzman, a former independent producer and short film-maker, Secret Agent was optioned by Darwin earlier this year. DNA will fund development, and company co-chiefs Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew Macdonald will produce, along with Darwin.

The film is set in 15th century Italy, and sees Leonardo da Vinci as a secret agent better equipped than James Bond. No cast or director is attached to the project, which is anticipated to shoot some time next year.

DNA, set up in February 1997 by producers Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew Macdonald, will next shoot 28 Days Later, a UK-set sci-fi film directed by Danny Boyle and written by novelist Alex Garland.

Other projects in the pipeline for DNA include The Final Curtain starring Peter O'Toole, and The Parole Officer starring Steve Coogan, which UIP will release in the UK next month.