Snowtown director Justin Kurzel has been tapped to direct John le Carre adaptation Our Kind of Traitor.

Ink Factory and Potboiler productions are producing the contemporary thriller, which was adapted by Hossein Amini (Drive). The story, set in London, Paris, Moscow and Tangiers, is about a young couple who help a charismatic Russian criminal.

The film is out to cast and financiers now, with the shoot expected to start in autumn 2012.

The film will be produced by Stephen Cornwell and Simon Cornwell, with Rhodri Thomas, for The Ink Factory, and Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood for Potboiler Productions. Tessa Ross of Film4, which is supporting development, will executive produce along with John le Carré.