Joshua Jackson has signed up to take the lead in UFO.

The Fringe actor will take the lead in the big screen adaptation of the cult 70s TV show by Gerry Anderson in a story which follows test pilot Paul Foster join a secret alien-fighting organization hidden between a film studio.

The movie will be directed by special effects expert Matthew Gratzner, who has previously worked on The Aviator, The Good Shepherd, Pitch Black and Alien Resurrection, and is based on the hit TV series of the same name.

The show followed the pilot’s discovery of the secret group - named SHADO - and his discovery of alien life forms after his plane was severely damaged when the two fought in the sky. Matthew plans to start filming early next year with a script penned by Ryan Gaudet and Joseph Kanarek.