Attack The Block director and Ant-Man co-writer Joe Cornish has been put to work by Universal on new thriller, ‘Section 6’, which stars ‘Unbroken’s’ Jack O’Connell. The Wrap broke the story.

Joe CornishJoe Cornish at the premiere for his film, 'Attack The Block'

The had been the subject of an intense bidding war, leading Universal to shell out a 7-figure sum amidst competition from high profile rivals. With the spec acquired, Universal set out to find their director, with Cornish beating out David MacKenzie and Tom Hooper for the job.

Cornish has recently gained a solid reputation since leaving his popular BBC 6Music show to concentrate on a movie career. Attack The Block was a popular hit, and followed a group of teens in an impoverished borough of London during an alien invasion. 

More: Five Things To Know About Ant-Man Before The Movie Buzz Begins

The sci-fi thriller was praised for its thrilling pace, original setting – for an alien movie, anyway – satirical script, which Cornish also wrote. It grabbed 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from a host of reviews, leading to a co-writing role on Ant-Man alongside his friend and director of the upcoming comic book movie, Edgar Wright. Cornish was also on the writing team for Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tin Tin. 

Cornish was also rumoured to be directing Star Trek 3, taking over from the current Star Wars director J.J Abrams, but according to The Wrap, he preferred to wait for the right project to come along. And it looks like Universal’s period thriller is that project. 

More: Read our review of 'Attack The Block'

‘Section 6’ follows a British war veteran after he is charged with a top secret and highly dangerous mission: to recover coded assassination orders in Russia in 1919 to prevent a diplomatic catastrophe. Marc Platt will produce alongside Adam Siegel for Marc Platt Productions. Lawrence Grey will produce for Grey Matter Productions and Nira Park will produce for Big Talk Pictures.

Watch O'Connell in the trailer for 'Unbroken'