Kingsman: The Secret Service's Matthew Vaughn To Direct I Am Pilgrim

MGM has tapped Matthew Vaughn to direct I Am Pilgrim, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

I Am Pilgrim is based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by journalist and screenwriter, Terry Hayes. It was Hayes' debut novel. It was published in 2014 and has sold more than 750,000 copies.

Vaughn is best known for directing Kingsman: The Secret Service, Stardust and X-Men: First Class.

The book's plot (via Random House): The story revolves around two men: Pilgrim and Saracen. Pilgrim is the code name for a top agent, now retired, who has written the definitive book on criminal forensics. He believes that his past has been so perfectly expunged that nobody can find him. But when a murderer uses the methods he described so meticulously, NYPD detective Ben Bradley tracks him down. Saracen is a man who was scarred for life when his father was executed in Saudi Arabia and his family had to flee in shame. He is brilliant, he is patient, and he burns with the desire for revenge. He plans to unleash a deadly virus on America for which there is no cure or vaccination. It is up to Pilgrim to find Saracen before he can execute his deadly plan.

"We could not be more excited to have a consummate filmmaker like Matthew to bring I Am Pilgrim to the screen," MGM motion picture group president Jonathan Glickman told THR. "His sensibility, coupled with Terry Hayes' incredible story, gives us the ideal team to bring this character to the world wide audience."

Production on I Am Pilgrim is scheduled to begin in 2016.