Lionsgate has picked up screen rights for Duane Swierczynski's novel Severance Package, and has set Brett Simon (Assassination of a High School President) to write the script with the author and direct the action comedy.

According to Variety, the story centers on a media relations director of a financial company who learns that the firm was a front for a covert intelligence agency that is being shut down immediately, with every manager scheduled to be terminated--literally.

The novel is a recipe for a Tarantino-esque, stylistically violent film, and it was discovered by Marc Platt Prods. prexy Siegel and Lionsgate veep Jim Miller. The novel was published May 27 by St. Martin's Minotaur.

No production date has been set.