Samuel L Jackson has signed on to play the lead in The Shadow Chaser, a $30m actionthriller that is being put together by LA-based Myriad Pictures.

Myriad is producing the project with Michael Mailer andcompany president and chief executive officer Kirk D'Amico and his sales teamwill commence worldwide sales at Berlin.

Filming on the Italy-set project is scheduled to begin thissummer with Jackson starring as aformer special ops agent who goes after a religious cult after they assassinatehis sister and nephew.

Thaddeus O'Sullivan, whose credits include Nothing Personal and December Bride, will direct and is partof a cabal of co-writers that includes Peter Byrne, JezButterworth, Ian Rabin and Ron Shusett.

"The marketplace for quality action thrillers of thisscope is alive and well," D'Amico said. "Producing The Shadow Chaser with Thaddeus and Samreflects our commitment to excellent storytelling with top notch filmmakers."

D'Amico recently served as executive producer on Kinsey, and the Australian hit Little Fish starring CateBlanchett, which is set to open in the USthrough First Look Studios in the first quarter.