Graham King and business partner Tim Headington will produce the project, based on a screenplay that Towne will write about the legendary fight over London between the RAF and the Luftwaffe that played a pivotal role in the second world war.

“My father lived in London and watched this spectacular dog fight over the city, so bringing this story of endurance and triumph to the big screen means a great deal to me,” King said.

“I am also extremely excited to be joining forces with the iconic Robert Towne, who is a master of mixing complex characters and tremendously compelling plots. Robert has a passion for history and a shared love of this particular story,” said King.

Towne’s credits include Chinatown, Bonnie And Clyde, Shampoo, The Firm and Mission: Impossible and its sequel, among many others. He will write Next Of Kin for David Fincher, Sam Raimi, Josh Donen and Sony. 

GK Films is in post on Martin Scorsese’s Hugo which will open through Paramount on Nov 23. The Rum Diary will open on Oct 28 and Angelina Jolie’s In The Land Of Blood And Honey will open on Dec 23, both through Film District.