According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO Films has come aboard Starter for Ten, which Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman's Playtone is producing in association with Sam Mendes' Scamp Films. The movie will be released by Picturehouse, the new distribution venture between HBO and New Line Cinema.

James McAvoy has signed on to star in the film, a coming-of-age movie being directed by Tom Vaughan.

The film will focus on a working-class student (McAvoy) who stumbles romantically and academically through his first year at a posh private university in England. It is based on David Nicholls' book, a best-seller in England. Nicholls also wrote the screenplay.