Ewan McGregor has signed on to star in the crime thriller Son of a Gun for Australian director Julius Avery.

The story centers on Australian's most wanted criminal (Ewan McGregor), and the complex relationship he has with a young protege. The project will be shopped around to buyers at the American Film Market in November.

Julius Avery will direct from his own screenplay, with Timothy White (Sleeping Beauty, The Warrior's Way) producing through his Southern Light Films banner. Aaron Gilbert is executive producing for Media House Capital, which is financing the picture with ScreenWest.

Production will begin in early 2013, with shooting to take place in Perth and Kalgoorlie, Australia.