Nicholas Hoult is in talks to star as Jack in Bryan Singer's adventure Jack the Giant Killer. The deal is expected to be finalized very soon.

The British actor, who will next be seen in X-Men: First Class, joins Stanley Tucci, Bill Nighy, and John Kassir, who all signed on to the project two days ago. Director Bryan Singer is also a producer on X-Men: First Class, where Nicholas Hoult portrays Beast. We reported back in December that Nicholas Hoult was on the short list of actors to play Jack, along with Aaron Johnson and Aneurin Bernard.

Bryan Singer will direct Jack the Giant Killer from a script by Christopher McQuarrie, Mark Bomback, and Darren Lemke, with David Dobkin and Neal H. Moritz producing. The story centers on young Jack, who inadvertently breaks a longstanding peace between the humans and giants when he pursues a princess who was kidnapped by a giant.

Jack the Giant Killer will start shooting in March, on location in London.