Michael Keaton will star in movie adaptation of 'American Assassin'

Michael Keaton has been cast to star in a movie adaptation of Vince Flynn’s American Assassin novel, EW confirmed.

American Assassin is the first in a series of fourteen graphic novels that follow the adventures of CIA counter-terrorist operative Mitch Rapp. Keaton will play Stan Hurley, a former CIA operative tasked with training Rapp. In the novel, Hurley becomes an important mentor for Rapp.

The American Assassin film has been in the works for years, with talks of Bruce Willis and Chris Hemsworth having been attached in the past. The movie will be directed by Homeland director/executive producer Michael Cuesta, based on a screenplay by The Americans writer Stephen Schiff.

Keaton joins the film after starring in back-to-back Best Picture Oscar winners —Birdman in 2015 and Spotlight in 2016 — and his upcoming film The Founder is already creating Oscars buzz. The role in the potential commercial blockbuster American Assassin adaptation might be a brief step away from prestige films for Keaton.