The Square‘s Claes Bang Joins Christopher Walken and Elizabeth Debicki in The Burnt Orange Heresy

Danish actor and European star Claes Bang has joined the cast of Giuseppe Capotondi’s neo-noir thriller The Burnt Orange Heresy, according to Variety. He will play the charismatic art critic James Figueras, who connects with an American tourist that arranges a career-changing meeting with reclusive artist Jerome Debney. However, Figueras faces a catch: In order for the introduction to go through, he must also steal one of Debney’s masterpieces.

Bang is well-known in his native Denmark and all across Europe, but he recently made international stardom with his riveting performance in last year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner The Square. The film, which also starred Elisabeth Moss, went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language film. Bang will star in the forthcoming The Girl in the Spider’s Web, which has Claire Foy playing the role of Lisbeth Salander with Atlanta star Lakeith Stanfield costarring.

As previously announced, Elizabeth Debicki will play the American tourist, Berenice Hollis, and Christopher Walken will play Jerome Debney. The story takes a classic noir turn when the duo begin to realize that the artist and their mission is not at all what it seems. The film takes place in the 1970s and was adapted from a novel by Charles Willeford.

Academy Award nominee Scott B. Smith (A Simple Plan) wrote the screenplay for the dark thriller. David Zander of MJZ (Spring Breakers) produces with BAFTA-nominated William Horberg (The Talented Mr. Ripley) through his Wonderful Films, and Academy Award-nominated David Lancaster (Whiplash) of Rumble Films.

HanWay Films is conducting international sales for the film, which will be found in the market at this years Cannes Film Festival. “It is a luxury to get the perfect casting for a film, and even more thrilling to see a sexy pairing come together, like Elizabeth Debicki and Claes Bang,” said HanWay Films managing director Gabrielle Stewart. “They are two of the most desirable international rising stars and pitch perfect leads for Capotondi’s Italian set thriller.”

The film currently sits in pre-production before production begins in Italy this summer.