Director Nicolas Winding Refn is set to helm the first movie to be released by new studio FilmDistrict, Slashfilm.com is reporting. The movie is ‘Drive,’ based on the novel by James Sallis, and is set for a late summer or early fall release for next year.

‘Drive,’ which was once set to be directed by Neil Marshall and released by Universal, stars Ryan Gosling who plays a stuntman by day, and a getaway driver by night. He is forced to flee after a heist he’s involved in goes wrong. Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks, Albert Brooks and Bryan Cranston are also on board to star. Hossein Amini wrote the script, which in part lured Refn to accept the director’s position.

The indie film is being put together in part by Graham King and Tim Headington of GK Films. The two will be running FilmDistrict with Bob Berney and Peter Schlessel, who left Apparition right before Cannes this year. The new studio aims to pick up films featuring well-known actors, and distribute them to 1,500 to 2,000 screens.

Written by: Karen Benardello