Michael Fassbender to Produce and Star in Lionsgate Spy Thriller Malko

Teaming up with Lionsgate, actor Michael Fassbender is set to star in the forthcoming spy thriller Malko, according to THR.

Lionsgate recently bought the rights to author Gerard de Villiers’ series S.A.S, which centers on the titular character of the film, Malko Linge. Fassbender will portray Malko, who is an Austrian nobleman and freelance CIA agent who grew up in a special Nazi work camp for captured spies. Now that he’s an adult and has learned from the best, Malko acts as a spy for hire.

The first film, from what is most likely intended to become a franchise, will be taken from the novel Checkpoint Charlie. The S.A.S. series has about 200 novels in it at the moment.

Along with starring, Fassbender is also set to produce the film through his DMC Film production company. Black Magic’s Lars Sylvest (Death Sentence), Kingsgate Films’ Greg Shapiro (The Hurt Locker) and Rocket Science’s Thorston Schumacher (At Eternity’s Gate) are also set to produce.

Oscar nominee Eric Warren Singer (American Hustle) is set to adapt the screenplay, as well as executive produce. Jason Clark (The Cabin in the Woods) and DMC’s Conor McCaughan (Assassin’s Creed) will also act as executive producers alongside Singer.

Fassbender most recently reprised his role as Magneto in the X-Men installment Dark Phoenix opposite Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner.