Owen set for Irish director's debut feature

Clive Owen is set to star in action-thriller 'The Killer Elite'.

The 45-year-old actor has signed up to join the cast of movie, a new thriller based on the Ranulph Fiennes novel 'The Feather Man', where he will play the leader of a vigilante group fighting to protect the families of SAS agents.

British-born Clive will star alongside Jason Statham in the movie by Irish director Gary McKendry, who is making his film debut with the picture.

Jason, 37 - who signed up to the role almost a year ago - will play a former Navy SEAL who comes out of retirement in order to save an old friend, portrayed by Clive.

Clive has had a number of successful films in recent years, including 'Sin City' in 2005 and sci-fi drama 'Children of Men' with Julianne Moore and Charlie Hunnam in 2006.

The actors will begin shooting the picture in Australia early this summer, after it was delayed from last year because of time and budget issues.