The actor is also a producer on the project, along with French/Tunisian producer Tarak Ben Ammar. The film is directed by Banderas’ Spanish countryman Gabe Ibanez, who also cowrote the script, along with Igor Lagaretta and Javier Sanchez Donate.

Local media reports the film will also star Jessica Alba, Lady Gaga, and Sofia Vergara.

Bulgaria has been the locale for several Hollywood action films in recent years, including Expendables 2 in 2011 and Conan the Barbarian 3D, both of which shot at Nu Boyana Film Studios (www.nuboyana.com).