Emma Watson and Daniel Brühl have signed on to star in Colonia, a thriller set during the 1973 Chilean military coup.

The plot centers on Daniel (Daniel Brühl), who is arrested by dictator Augusto Pinochet's secret police. Emma Watson plays his lover Lena, who tracks Daniel to a sealed-off area in the south of Chile known as Colonia Digignad. The government has set up a charitable mission run by a preacher as a front for this sinister place where no one escapes. In order to get Daniel back, Lena must join this cult.

Florian Gallenberger, who directed Daniel Brühl in John Rabe, is directing Colonia from a screenplay he co-wrote with Torsten Wenzel. Benjamin Herrmann is producing through his Majestic company, with Nicolas Steil co-producing for Iris Productions.

Principal photography will begin towards the end of this year, with shooting to take place in Luxembourg, Munich, Berlin and South America.

Emma Watson most recently starred in Noah and she also signed on to star in the musical La La Land alongside Miles Teller. Daniel Brühl is coming off performances in The Fifth Estate and this summer's A Most Wanted Man.