Directed by Lone Scherfig and starring Gemma Arterton, the romantic wartime comedy will shoot this summer.

Lionsgate UK has taken UK distribution rights to Lone Scherfig’s Their Finest Hour And A Half.

Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy head up the cast of the romantic comedy about a young woman screenwriter during the Blitz in London, which is set to start shooting late summer. It is an adaptation of Lissa Evans’s 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction nominated novel.

Hanway are handling worldwide sales in Cannes.

BBC Films has developed and will co-finance the project, which is being produced by Stephen Woolley for Number 9 Films and Amanda Posey for Wildgaze Films.

Zygi Kamasa, Lionsgate UK CEO, who will executive produce together with BBC Films’ Christine Langan, said: “A project such as this with a visionary director, established producing team and impressive British cast cements the fact that British cinema is thriving and we’re thrilled to be able to push that message home by adding this title to our 2016 slate.