Award-winning Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura has signed on to helm action-thriller Doorman, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

With an original screenplay by Lior Chefetz and Joe Swanson, the story follows a woman who returns from combat and befriends a family in New York City. When a gang of thieves plot to take the family’s valuables, she fights to defend the family.

Double Dutch International (DDI) is handling foreign sales and is introducing the project to buyers at AFM. Harry Winer (Space Camp) of Smash Media is producing along with DDI's Jason Moring.

“Ryuhei is such an established filmmaker in Asia, we are honored to have him bring his extraordinary vision on this side of the Pacific, for this action packed thriller," Moring said Sunday in a statement.

Kitamura gained acclaim for his 2000 action Versus, which became a cult hit. He also helmed manga adaptation Azumi and Godzilla: Final Wars. Kitamura made his American directorial debut with the 2008 horror film Midnight Meat Train starring Bradley Cooper and also helmed the 2012 movie No One Lives with Luke Evans. He most recently directed Japanese film Lupin the 3rd. Kitamura is repped by ICM Partners and Infinity Management International.