Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional) is joining Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp and Anjelica Huston in World War II drama Waiting For Anya, which is now underway in France. Also new to the Goldfinch Studios project are actors Joséphine de La Baume (Madame) and Sadie Frost (Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie).

The film was launched at the recent EFM by L.A.-based 13 Sales. Deals closed there with Pan Asia (Fox Networks Group Asia), Middle East (Eagle Films), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (NOS Lusomundo), and Spain, Eastern Europe, Turkey & India (SPI). Schnapp will play a young shepherd, Jo, in the film alongside Huston’s widow Horcada. The movie is an adaptation of the book by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo. Set in Lescun, southern France, it follows Jo’s involvement in smuggling Jewish children across the border into Spain. The Pianist star Thomas Kretschmann, Elsa Zylbertsein (I’ve Loved You So Long) and Tomas Lemarquis (X-Men: Apocalypse) also feature.

Directed by Ben Cookson, director of Emily Atack and Philip McGinley’s Almost Married, the film is written by Morpurgo, who first published the book in 1990, and Toby Torlesse. The movie is produced by Phin Glynn for Bad Penny Productions and Alan Latham for Goldfinch Studios. Executive producers are Kirsty Bell, Victor Glynn, Geoffrey Iles and co-producer is Daz Spencer-Lovesey. 13 Films is also an exec producer.