Denzel Washington has joined the cast of upcoming thriller The Matarese Circle.

The film, based on the book by Bourne writer Robert Ludlum, centres on a pair of secret agents forced to team up to fight an international group of killers known as the Matarese.

American Bradley Scofield of the CIA and Russian Vasili Taleniekov of the KGB are sworn enemies and had previously vowed to kill each other, but must put their feelings aside to work together.

Oscar winner Washington will play Scofield, claims The Hollywood Reporter.

3:10 to Yuma writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas will pen the script.