Ryan Gosling has cast the lead in his directorial debut, How to Catch a Monster, and it's someone with quite a bit of monster-catching experience. Variety reports that "Doctor Who" star Matt Smith will star opposite Christina Hendricks and Eva Mendes in the fantasy adventure.

Said to weave elements of fantasy noir and suspense into a modern day fairytale, How to Catch a Monster is set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city. Billy, a single mother of two, is swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town. Both Billy and Bones must dive deep into the mystery, if their family is to survive.

Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will produce on behalf of Marc Platt Productions, along with Ryan Gosling via his Phantasma Films banner, and Michel Litvak and David Lancaster via the Bold Films banner.