Monahan directing 'London Boulevard'

Rex Features

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.