Jason Statham set for espionage movie Echelon?

Jason Statham is being lined up to star in 'Echelon'.

The British actor is set to play SAS soldier Nick Stone who attempts to foil a gang of terrorists from trying to gain access to the world's largest computer intelligence database in the movie based on the novel 'Firewall' by Andy McNab.

Eric Bana was previously attached to the project which will be helmed by first time director Simon Crane.

Ashok Amritraj, Bonnie Timmermann and Jason's frequent collaborator Steve Chasman will produce, according to Deadline.com

The movie is being tipped as a franchise as it is based on the third book in a 13-part series.

Jason is currently starring as the voice of Tybalt in Elton John and David Furnish's animated 'Gnomeo and Juliet' and has a number of projects lined up.

He will next star in 'The Killer Elite' and 'Safe' and is expected to start filming 'The Expendables 2' with Sylvester Stallone in the near future.

He is also thought to be taking on roles in 'Potsdamer Platz' and 'Pretty, Baby, Machine' in 2012.