Liam Neeson in talks to join Sony's 'Men in Black' spinoff

May 23 (UPI) -- Liam Neeson is being eyed to star in Sony's planned Men in Black spinoff that features Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson.

Neeson is in talks to join the project, which will be directed by Straight Outta Compton and The Fate of the Furious helmer F. Gary Gray from a script by Iron Man screenwriters Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

Neeson is wanted to portray the head of the Men in Black organization in London where the spinoff film will begin, Deadline reported.

The film, slated to hit theaters on June 14, 2019, will feature new characters outside of the original trilogy's Agents K and J portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, respectively. The Men in Black series followed a secret organization that protected earth from alien threats.

Steven Spielberg is executive producing with Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald producing.

Hemsworth and Thompson, the film's leads, previously shared the screen together in Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok.