Tom Hardy has signed onto star in an adaptation of Ubisoft's video game series Splinter Cell. Eric Singer (The International) is writing the screenplay adapted from the video games, which are based on Tom Clancy's novels.

The project has been in the works for quite some time, dating all the way back to 2004, when Peter Berg was attached to direct. We reported in June that Ubisoft was in talks with Paramount and Warner Bros., although the project still does not have a studio home yet.

The story centers on Sam Fisher, a highly-trained operative in a secretive unit known as Echelon. Here's what Ubisoft Motion Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet had to say about casting Tom Hardy.

"Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills. His involvement in the Splinter Cell movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike. Meanwhile, Eric Singer is one of the most talented writers of the moment, and we're confident he'll bring a fresh approach and create a thrilling story, while still respecting all the codes and traditions of the franchise that are so important to fans."

The Splinter Cell video game series has sold more than 23 million copies since its debut in 2002. The seventh game, Splinter Cell: Blacklist will be released next spring.