Morgan Freeman is to star in Dreamcatcher, an adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling novel. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film, which will be written by William Goldman and directed by Lawrence Kasdan, will go into production in Vancouver in January.

The thriller tells the story of four childhood friends with telepathic powers. Some years later they join up again to use their special skills against alien forces and the evil Colonel Kurtz, who will be played by Freeman.

"We start out with four friends who are burned out and unhappy and who get together once a year to go hunting," Kasdan told Variety, "The fact that it starts out like The Big Chill was an attraction, but it then gets taken over by a terrific Stephen King narrative."

Castle Rock, who are producing the film, also brought the other Stephen King adaptations The Green Mile and Stand By Me to the big screen.