Ben Stiller, Lily James and Stephen Merchant are in advanced talks to star in Doug Liman's pandemic-themed heist movie Lockdown, which has started production in London, AGC Studios said Wednesday.

Dulé Hill, Jazmyn Simon and Mark Gatiss are also in talks to join Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the heist comedy drama. Set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 lockdown, Lockdown tells the story of how sparring couple Linda (Hathaway) and Paxton (Ejiofor) call a truce to attempt a high-risk, high-stakes jewelry heist at the world’s most exclusive department store, Harrods.

The film will continue shooting under strict protocols amid the Coronavirus pandemic on location in the UK through October.

Lockdown was originated by Storyteller Productions and its producers P.J. van Sandwijk and Michael Lesslie, who approached Doug Liman and screenwriter Steven Knight with the project.

AGC Studios, which is financing Lockdown, boarded the project after CAA Media Finance completed a bidding process among indie film financiers.

P.J. van Sandwijk is producing with Alison Winter and Michael Lesslie, with AGC’s Ford and Miguel Palos on board as executive producers.

CAA Media Finance is handling worldwide sales with AGC.

From: THR