Variety reports that Sam Worthington will star in director Phillip Noyce's new action-thriller For the Dogs. Oren Moverman wrote the script based on Paul Leyden's adaptation of Kevin Wignall's novel. The novel is described as follows:

Inspired in part by "The Nibelungenlied" (the epic German poem which was the basis for Wagner's "Ring Cycle") and partly by Jane Austen's "Persuasion" (both books actually appear in the text), this is the story of Ella and Lucas. Ella is touring Italy with her boyfriend, unaware that her entire family has been murdered, that her father's business dealings are questionable, and that someone is about to attempt to kill her. Lucas is a retired hitman, keeping an eye on Ella as a favour for her father. He saves Ella from her would-be killers, but a complex dance ensues, with Ella determined on revenge, and Lucas equally determined to leave that life behind, to reconnect with his former girlfriend and the daughter he's never known.

Anthony Rhulen and Navid McIlhargey will produce thourgh their FilmEngine Entertainment. Worthington, John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz are also producing through their Full Clip Productions along with Leyden.