Sean Penn has joined an adaptation of Jean-Patrick Manchette's action novel The Prone Gunman.

The book follows hired gun Martin Terrier, who is trying to retire from his profession. After his failed attempt to leave his chosen life, he must run across Europe in a brutal game of cat-and-mouse to escape the organization he worked for.

Sean Penn most recently starred in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life, which he won two Oscars for. He will be seen next in Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad.

Joel Silver and Andrew Rona will be producing with Peter Travis penning the screenplay.

No production schedule has been released.