Gerard Butler, tipped by some to be the new James Bond, is to star in Natural History, which starts filming in the city later this month.
The 34-year-old actor will star with Emily Mortimer and fellow Glasgow actor Sharon Small in the family drama. It also marks a return to the city for Mortimer, who appeared in 51st State and Scream 3.
She was here last year to shoot Young Adam with Ewan McGregor.
In the film, Mortimer plays a woman who has lied to her young son, telling him his father is at sea. When a ship with the same name as the one she invented docks nearby she has to come up with a plan. Her solution is to hire a stranger to pretend to be the boy’s father for a day.
Natural History is co-produced by Glasgow’s Sigma Films and the London-based Scorpion Films. It has already been picked up by Pathe, a leading film distributor, for release next year.
The casting of Butler is seen as a major coup for Sigma.
After his breakthrough in Dracula 2002, Butler – who studied law at Glasgow University – went on to appear in last summer’s Reign of Fire.
He will also co-star with Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider 2 and the Michael Crichton time travel adventure Timeline.
This new film is directed by Shona Auerbach, director of the award-winning short Seven.
Filming begins on March 17 and is expected to run until May.
Natural History also enhances Sigma’s reputation as a big player in the Scots film industry.
It has already been involved in Glasgow-based Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, which was well received at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as Young Adam.
It’s the third major movie lined up for the city this year.
Danny the Dog, starring Morgan Freeman and Jet Li, has just completed shooting here and the new Ken Loach film is being lined up for the summer.
A Glasgow Film Office spokeswoman said: “We’re delighted to see another big film coming to the city.”
Copyright 2003 Scottish Media Newspapers Limited