Cannes: Noomi Rapace Boards Action-Thriller 'Close' (Exclusive)

The 'Prometheus' star will play a counter-terrorism expert who takes on what should be a simple job, protecting a rich teenage heiress.

Noomi Rapace is set to take the lead in upcoming action-thriller Close.

The film — which has been sent out to buyers ahead of Cannes, with London-based banner WestEnd handling worldwide sales — is based on the life of the world's leading female bodyguard and will see the Prometheus star play a counter-terrorism expert who takes on what should be a babysitting job protecting a rich teenage heiress. But a violent attempted kidnapping forces the two to go on the run, and then they've got to take some lives — or lose theirs.

Close is being directed by British helmer Vicky Jewson (Born of War), who co-wrote the script with Rupert Whitaker. WestEnd acquired the film under its WeLove banner aimed at female audiences.

Whitaker is also producing the pic, while executive producers are Janette Day (Vanity Fair, Ghost World); Braden Aftergood (Hell or High Water, Lone Survivor, Battleship), Sarah Radclyffe (Les Misérables, The Edge of Love), and producers’ representative Dennis Davidson.

Rapace, who rose to fame as Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish-language adaptation of Stieg Larsson's Millennium novels, has also starred in Child 44, The Drop and Michael Apted's recent thriller Unlocked with Orlando Bloom and Toni Collette. She will soon appear in David Ayer's fantasy actioner Bright, alongside Will Smith and Joel Edgerton; hostage crisis thriller Stockholm with Mark Strong and Ethan Hawke; and as Maria Callas in an upcoming biopic about the famed opera singer.

Shooting on Close is set to start next month.

Rapace is repped by CAA, Magnolia Entertainment and attorney Howard Fishman of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.