Chloe Grace Moretz is to star in 'The Fifth Wave'.

The 'Kick-Ass' actress will take on the lead role in the sci-fi thriller, which is set in the aftermath of a series of deadly alien attacks, The Wrap reports.

The evil extra-terrestrials have left Earth a darkened, doomed place following a number of invasions, and they roam the planet in near-human form picking off survivors.

Moretz will play Cassie Sullivan, a woman who sets out to rescue her brother and believes the safest way to do so is to travel alone - until she meets the mysterious Evan Walker, who could be her last hope.

The movie is based on a novel by Rick Yancy, which was published last year, and Susannah Grant is adapting the book into a screenplay.

When Sony purchased the rights to the story, they included his proposed three-book series, so the actress could also be set for a number of sequels.

The 17-year-old star has a number of movies awaiting release, including teen drama 'If I Stay', comedy 'Laggies', action adventure 'The Equalizer' opposite Denzel Washington, and the Gillian Flynn thriller 'Dark Places'.