Michael Keaton to play Stan Hurley in 'American Assassin' adaptation

LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- Michael Keaton will star as Stan Hurley in the film adaptation of Vince Flynn's bestseller American Assassin, CBS Films and Lionsgate announced Wednesday.

The movie will be helmed by Michael Cuesta from a screenplay by Stephen Schiff. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler are producing the project.

"Stan Hurley is one of the pillars of the Vince Flynn universe and a favorite character for millions of readers, so casting him was a daunting challenge," Cuesta said in a statement. "To have an actor as intelligent and gifted as Michael Keaton bring this beloved character to life is a thrill for everyone involved in American Assassin and a cause for celebration amongst 'Hurley' fans the world over."

"Cold War veteran Stan Hurley would be the most feared training officer in the CIA if more than a handful of people at the agency knew that he existed," a synopsis said. "As American Assassin begins, Deputy Director Irene Kennedy tasks Hurley with training Mitch Rapp, a black ops recruit devastated by the loss of his fiancée to a terrorist attack. As Rapp's training progresses, the pair is dispatched on a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent to stop a mysterious operative from starting World War III in the Middle East."

Keaton has starred in back-to-back Best Picture Oscar winners Birdman and Spotlight the past two years.