Samuel L. Jackson signs up for The Secret Service

With Tom Cruise (Edge of Tomorrow) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained) both passing on the role, director Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) has turned to a comic book movie veteran for the villain in his upcoming adaptation of The Secret Service, with Variety revealing that Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) has signed on to portray the main bad guy.

The Secret Service is based upon the comic book miniseries of the same name from writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass) and artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), which centres on a veteran secret agent who takes a young upstart under his wing. Oscar winner Colin Firth (The King's Speech) will play the veteran agent alongside newcomer Taron Egerton, while Vaughn is reportedly looking at Emma Watson (Harry Potter) and Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows) for the female lead.

Production on The Secret Service is set to get underway in the autumn, with the film currently set for release on November 14th, 2014.