Gary Oldman joining cast of Hunter Killer

Gary Oldman is to star in 'Hunter Killer'.

According to reports, the 57-year-old actor is to join the cast of the military action drama, also featuring Gerard Butler, which is being adapted from George Wallace and Don Keith's novel 'Firing Point'.

The story focuses on a Russian general who kidnaps his country's president and tries to start World War III.

Oldman is to play an American military official who must deploy

untested submarine captain Joe Glass (Butler) and a Navy SEAL team.

The movie has been in development for years and was initially delayed when Butler accepted a role in 2013 action flick 'Olympus Has Fallen'.

Original Films producing team Neil Moritz and Toby Jaffe have taken over the rights to make the movie from the now-bankrupt Relativity Media and are now looking for a director to helm the project.

Previously, Philip Noyce, Martin Campbell and McG have all been linked to 'Hunter Killer'.

Oldman can next be seen in crime drama 'Criminal' and then sci-fi flick 'The Space Between Us', while Butler will be seen in the cinema in historical fantasy 'Gods of Egypt'.