FilmNation Entertainment has partnered with Lava Bear Films to finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller Story Of Your Life, Deadline said.

Scripted by Eric Heisserer, the film will be helmed by commercials director Nic Mathieu. The film will be produced by 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bear’s David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNation’s Glen Basner and Heisserer will be executive producers.

Based on a short story by sci-fi writer Ted Chiang, Story Of Your Life is a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe, a linguist is recruited by the U.S. government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth. Production will begin next year.

“If you look at Ted Chiang’s powerful source material, how deftly Eric and the team at 21 Laps handled the adaptation, and what Nic’s vision brings to the film, it’s no surprise that there’s been so much competitive interest,” said Ryder.

Lava Bear’s Linde added: “This is an incredibly dynamic and contemporary script. There is nothing else like it.” Heisserer is repped by UTA and WME reps 21 Laps and Nic Mathieu.