Samuel L. Jackson joins The Samaritan

Samuel L. Jackson has signed up to star in thriller 'The Samaritan'.

The 'Snakes on a Plane' star will play a former trickster who decides to change his life following a 20 year stay in prison in the David Weaver-directed project.

However, problems arise when he is asked to help the son of his former partner in crime.

Luke Kirby and Ruth Negga are also set for roles in the movie - written by Weaver and Elan Mastai -which begins production next week in Canada and Brazil.

The project is the last one 62-year-old Samuel will have time to work on before he begins shooting the eagerly anticipated comic-book adaptation 'The Avengers' where he stars as eye patch-wearing Nick Fury.

Other films in the pipeline for the Hollywood legend include 'Meeting Evil' - about a young family man who meets a mysterious stranger - with Luke Wilson and Leslie Bibb, and 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage'.