James Mangold has signed on to direct the revenge thriller The Gunslinger, for New Regency via Warner Bros., reports Heat Vision.

Warner Bros. initially bought the spec, from John Hlavin (Underworld 4), in May 2009. Described as a contemporary Western, it centers on an ex-Texas Ranger who sets out to punish the men who killed his brother.

New Regency is looking to start production on The Gunslinger in the spring.