Jean Reno to become a 'Flyboy'

Film will tell the story of the Lafayette Escadrille, a group of American fighter pilots who volunteered for the French military.

Apr  5 2005

Jean Reno and James Franco have been cast in the forthcoming World War I drama 'Flyboys'.

The production, which is all set to start principal photography in the UK on April 18, will be directed by Tony Bill ('Crazy People', 'Untamed Heart') and produced by Dean Devlin ('Stargate', 'Independence Day').

Based on a script by Phil Sears and Blake Evans, which has been re-written by David Ward, the film tells the tale of the Lafayette Escadrille, a group of young American fighter pilots who volunteered for the French military before America entered the war.

'No one has yet done the ultimate aerial battle film with these kinds of aircraft,' said Devlin in a statement concerning the film. 'We're hoping to bring something to the screen that audiences have never seen before.'

Before then, Reno will be seen in 'The Pink Panther' opposite Steve Martin, as well as the forthcoming adaptation of publishing phenomenon 'The Da Vinci Code', while 'Spider-Man' star Franco has just completed work on World War II adventure 'The Great Raid'.