Sir Ben Kingsley is in talks to join Ender's Game. The British actor would appear alongside his Hugo co-star Asa Butterfield should he sign up to the project, an adaptation of the sci-fi novel by Orson Scott Card.

The book tells the tale of an earth under attack from an insect-like alien species, where bullied youngster Ender Wiggin (Asa) proves to have hidden talents which could help save the human race. Ben would play a former war hero who is presumed to be long-dead in the movie, which is being produced by Star Trek scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gavin Hood is directing the project, which is set to go into production in February 2012, although no release date is yet planned.

Oscar-winner Ben - who can currently be seen in Martin Scorsese's family film Hugo - has a number of roles set to hit cinemas in 2012, including a part in Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator.