Jamie Dornan to star in 'The 9th Life of Louis Drax'

No matter how good he looks in light-wash jeans, Jamie Dornan is more than just the man behind Christian Grey. The Fifty Shades actor is set to star in The 9th Life of Louis Drax, a new psychological thriller from Miramax that also has Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) in the director’s chair.

The 9th Life of Louis Drax, penned by first-time screenwriter Max Minghella (you may know him from acting turns on The Mindy Project and The Internship), tells the story of Louis Drax—beginning on the character’s 9th birthday, when, according to a press release, he “suffers a near-fatal fall.” Enter Dornan as Dr. Allan Pascal, who works to discover the “strange circumstances surrounding the young boy’s accident,” a mystery that will test “the boundaries of fantasy and reality.”

The film is based on Liz Jensen’s best-selling novel, which was first optioned in 2004. The late Anthony Minghella, Max’s father, planned to adapt and direct the film version.

“Max’s script takes us on a very emotional journey through the deep recesses of the mind and on a suspenseful Hitchcockian ride,” Aja said in a press release. “I was drawn to the poignant family drama and the supernatural elements, and am excited to bring this rich and complex story to life.”

Half Nelson‘s Rosanne Korenberg is also on board to executive produce.