AceShowbiz - Australian actor Eric Bana has signed on to lead a movie adaptation of bestselling crime thriller "The Dry".

The "Troy" star will portray Aaron Falk, a federal agent who returns to his drought-stricken Australian hometown 20 years after leaving to attend the funeral of a childhood friend, who reportedly murdered his wife and son before taking his own life.

During the visit, Falk is reluctantly recruited to investigate the tragedy, a case which leads him to uncover possible links to other local crimes.

The film, based on the hit 2016 book by Jane Harper, will reunite Eric with his "Romulus, My Father" filmmaker Robert Connolly, who will direct from a script co-written with Harry Cripps, reports Deadline.com.

He will also serve alongside Bana as an executive producer on the project, which is also being developed by Reese Witherspoon's former producing partner, Bruna Papandrea, for her company Made Up Stories.

"I am incredibly excited to be part of the team bringing this thrilling and evocative novel to life," Bana shares in a statement. "I love the journey of Falk."

Excited to share this news today. We are adapting Jane Harper’s best selling novel The Dry. 🎥 https://t.co/iMPTrWJk8N

— Eric Bana (@EricBana67) November 30, 2018

The director adds, "I am delighted to be collaborating with Eric again, along with working with Bruna and the team at Made Up Stories on this adaptation for the screen of such an incredibly cinematic and emotionally charged work."

Production on "The Dry" is set to begin in late February in Victoria, Australia.

It's the latest adaptation to star Bana - he currently features as conman John Meehan in true crime drama series "Dirty John", based on the popular podcast of the same name. Connie Britton plays his victim, successful interior designer Debra Newell, while Jean Smart stars as her TV mum.