THE Edinburgh-based screen writer and director Hope Dickson Leach is set to shoot her second movie with stars Jack O’Connell and Lily Collins.

Ms Dickson Leach won a Scottish Bafta for her debut feature The Levelling, and is now to direct The Cradle, starring O’Connell, known for his roles in Starred Up, ’71 and Unbroken, and Collins, known for Rules Don’t Apply and Mirror Mirror.

Collins, 29, also a model and writer, is the daughter of musician Phil Collins.

Protagonist Pictures, sales agents, are to launch the film at the forthcoming Cannes film festival.

Based on a novel, in the movie O’Connell and Collins will play Matt and Marissa, a couple who are expecting their first baby, and Marissa sends Matt on a quest to find a key item from her childhood.

Ms Dickson Leach’s previous feature The Levelling was BIFA nominated and won her a Scottish Bafta for best writer.

She was also awarded the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary in 2016.

The Cradle has been adapted from the 2009 novel by US writer Patrick Somerville, and is co-written by Somerville and Dickson Leach.

Prodicer Gail Mutrux, of Pretty Pictures, said: “When we read Patrick Somerville’s book The Cradle, we immediately fell in love with his exquisitely complex story about family ties which balances the emotional pull of parent-child connections with comically eccentric touches.

“We feel most fortunate that the remarkably talented Hope Dickson Leach will be directing the dream cast of Jack O’Connell and Lily Collins.”

Protagonist’s CEO Dave Bishop added: “We were so moved by Hope Dickson Leach’s highly acclaimed and beautifully observed debut feature, The Levelling – which immediately placed her as a major new talent.

“We’re thrilled to be working with her and the team at Pretty Pictures on this wonderfully life affirming, funny and heartfelt film about coming to terms with your past to face your future.

“With Jack O’Connell and Lily Collins perfectly cast, we’re delighted to be presenting The Cradle to distributors at the forthcoming Cannes market.”