Jackman confirmed for Prisoners (From The Oxford Times)

Jackman confirmed for Prisoners

12:01pm Friday 16th March 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Hugh Jackman is back on board for gripping thriller Prisoners, it has been confirmed.

The Australia star, who was attached to the lead role two years ago before the film was put on hold, is now starring as Keller, a small-town carpenter who decides to take the law into his own hands after his daughter and best friend are kidnapped, reported Deadline.

Michael Fassbender was previously offered the lead, while Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio were all linked at one point.

Denis Villenueve will direct from a script written by Aaron Guzikowski.

Alcon Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said in a statement: "We are ecstatic that Hugh will take the lead in this exciting thriller. We can think of no better 'Keller' - an everyman who rises to an occasion most of us could not imagine possible.

"Denis's rare directing gifts are superbly matched to this material, that is both challenging and explores complex themes in a commercially appealing narrative."

Production on Prisoners is scheduled to begin in early 2013, once Hugh completes Les Miserables and The Wolverine, with an expected release in November 2013.