Matthew Vaughn’s take on Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons’ graphic novel The Secret Service has already cast Colin Firth as the secret agent who takes a young punk played by Taron Egerton under his wing, but now it’s being reported by Variety that Samuel L. Jackson is set to play the villain with production expected to start this fall.

Vaughn had been looking for a big star to play the main baddie with Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio being two names that were mentioned, but now that Jackson is on board, they just need to find the movie’s female lead, with Emma Watson and Dark Shadows star Bella Heathcoate both being named in the mix.

Adapted by Vaughn with his frequent writing partner Jane Goldman, Vaughn’s Marv Films will finance and produce the film similar to how they did their previous Mark Millar adaptation Kick-Ass.

Jackson will next be seen reuniting with Spike Lee for the Oldboy remake, followed by a role in MGM’s remake of RoboCop next February and then Marvel Studios’ Captain America; The Winter Soldier in April 2014.

(Photo source: Tony Forte/ WENN)