Monahan directing 'London Boulevard'

William Monahan will make his directorial debut with an adaptation of Ken Bruen's novel London Boulevard, according to Variety.

Irish author Bruen, known for writing hard-boiled crime fiction, sets Boulevard in South London. The story features a criminal just out of prison who tries to give up the gangster life by becoming a handyman for an actress.

Monahan won an Oscar in 2007 for writing The Departed and is currently working on a remake of the Korean film The Chaser for Warner Bros and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Quentin Curtis and Monahan will produce the film.