Deadline is exclusively reporting that Riz Ahmed and Lily James have signed on to star in the thriller Relay, which will be directed by David Mackenzie.

.

The film follows Tom, a world class ‘fixer’ who specialises in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from potential client Sarah, needing Tom’s protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change.

.

Riz Ahmed (whose recent credits include Encounter and Mogul Mowgli) will be playing the role of Tom, and Lily James (whose recent credits include Pam & Tommy and What’s Love Got To Do With It?) will be playing the role of Sarah.

.

Mackenzie also wrote the screenplay with Justin Piasecki. The film is being financed by Black Bear, who will be launching the project at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin. Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk will serve as producer alongside Sigma’s Gillian Berrie and David Mackenzie, and Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman. Black Bear’s Michael Heimler and John Friedberg will serve as executive producers alongside Thunder Road’s Erica Lee and Charlie Morrison.

.

Filming on Relay is scheduled to commence in New York and New Jersey this April.