James McAvoy (X-Men film franchise) has signed on to star alongside Charlize Theron in the big screen spy thriller The Coldest City. Set during the late 1980s, the movie follows a spy who is dealing with the aftermath of a murder in which the victim was an undercover MI-6 officer. Days before the fall of the Berlin Wall, two spies from opposite sides are hunting for a list containing the names of spies on both sides. They are desperately working to obtain this valuable list before it ends up in the wrong hands.

Based on Antony Johnston’s graphic novel by the same name, the screenplay was written by Kurt Johnstad, who is best known for writing the 300 action-fantasy movies.

Directing is stuntman-turned-filmmaker David Leitch. Although Leitch worked behind the camera on John Wick, The Coldest City will be his first credited director gig.

In addition to starring in the movie, Theron will also serve as one of the producers along with Leitch, A.J. Dix and frequent Theron collaborator Beth Kono.

Currently in pre-production, the film is set to begin shooting this November in Budapest before moving on to Berlin. The picture is expected to be released in 2016.

McAvoy will be getting lots of screen time between now and the end of next year. The popular actor’s next project, out Nov. 25, is the much buzzed about Victor Frankenstein, which offers a fresh take on the Frankenstein story. He will also star in an untitled M. Night Shyamalan thriller and X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016.