Joseph Gordon-Levitt will star as a co-pilot in the independent airplane hijacking thriller “7500,” replacing Paul Dano in the lead role.

Patrick Vollrath is directing from his own script with shooting starting Tuesday in Cologne and Vienna. Dano left the part due to scheduling conflicts.

FilmNation Entertainment has acquired international distribution rights and Endeavor Content is selling North American rights. “7500” will be Vollrath’s full-length feature debut following his 2015 Academy Award-nominated short, “Everything Will Be Okay.”

“7500” centers on an airline hijacking as desperate fear of the unknown undermines both hijacker and pilot. Vollrath said, “Joseph is one of the most exciting actors on the screen today, and we can’t wait to work with him and see what magic he brings to this complex role.”

The film is being produced by Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo of Augenschein Filmproduktion. Novotny’s Franz Novotny and Alexander Glehr, who produced “Egon Schiele: Death and the Maiden,” will co-produce the film. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lindsay Williams of the Gotham Group will executive produce.

Glen Basner, CEO of FilmNation Entertainment, said, “As one of the great actors of his generation, Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings a whole new dimension to this character. We are thrilled to work with him as well as Patrick, who provides a fresh and exciting new voice to the project. We are certain that audiences will be just as taken with 7500 as we are.”

Gordon-Levitt most recently starred in Oliver Stone’s “Snowden” as Edward Snowden, the American who fled to Russia after leaking classified CIA documents. He’s next set to direct and star in “Wingmen,” a comedy musical with Channing Tatum, and is in development on “Fraggle Rock” at New Regency, “In Sight” at Universal with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and “K Troop” at Amazon Films.

Augenschein Filmproduktion has produced “Ana, Mon Amour,” which was awarded the Silver Bear at the 2017 Berlinale; “Hunting Season,” winner of the 2017 Venice Critic’s Week Prize; “My Happy Family,” which had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival; and “Los Perros,” which premiered in the 2017 Cannes Cannes Critic’s week.

“7500” is funded with the support of Film and Medienstiftung NRW, DFFF, BKM, FFA, MFG, FFHSH as well as ÖFI, Filmfonds Vienna, and FISA. Universum will distribute the film in Germany.

Vollrath is represented by Gotham Group (USA) and Schlag Agency (Germany). Gordon-Levitt is represented by WME and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer.

Dano was in talks to play the lead role but the deal was never closed.