Penélope Cruz is in final talks to join the Paramount Pictures spy comedy Grimsby, alongside a cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong.

The story centers on a covert operative (Mark Strong) who is forced to go into hiding in his hometown, where he reluctantly teams up with his soccer hooligan brother (Sacha Baron Cohen). Insiders claim that Penélope Cruz is playing a benevolent corporate leader who may be hiding a secret.

The supporting cast also includes Annabelle Wallis, Rebel Wilson, David Harewood, Ian McShane, Gabourey Sidibe, Johnny Vegas and Sacha Baron Cohen's wife Isla Fisher.

Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me) is directing from a script co-written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Phil Johnston and Peter Baynham. Nira Park is producing alongside Sacha Baron Cohen, with shooting scheduled to begin this summer in the U.K. and South Africa.

Penélope Cruz most recently starred in The Counselor and Twice Born.