Gerard Butler is in talks to star in the gestating sci-fi action project The Raven for Universal Pictures and director Ricardo de Montreuil.

The project has been in development since 2010, when Ricardo de Montreuil's short film of the same name debuted. Liam Hemsworth was initially attached to star, but he is no longer involved. The story centers on a man with incredible, super-human talents, who is on the run from robotic cop drones in downtown Los Angeles, while a police ship hovers the skies, coordinating the chase.

Gold Circle has come aboard to co-finance with Universal, with Paul Brooks is producing alongside Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson. Scott Niemeyer, Nick Osborne, Trevor Engelson, and Oly Obst executive producing. Production may begin later this year.

Gerard Butler most recently starred in the ensemble comedy Movie 43 and the action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen. His upcoming projects include Dynamo and the animated sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2.