James Franco has signed on to direct Garden of Last Days. Spring Breakers actor Franco will also take a leading role in the thriller.

Garden of Last Days is an adaption of the novel by the same name from author Andre Dubus III, who wrote House Of Sand And Fog, Digital Spy revealed citing Deadline.

The story follows the path of three individuals' struggles - a stripper, an angry, lonely man and a foreigner contemplating a horrendous act.

The film will take place in present-day New York, rather than the novel's original setting of 2001, at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Production on Garden of Last Days will commence on July 8 in New York.

The film will be produced by Gerard Butler (300), Alan Siegel (Law Abiding Citizen) and Danielle Robinson (Playing for Keeps).