Variety reports that Neil Marshall has joined up with Universal to direct James Sallis' novel Drive, with Hugh Jackman attached to star and produce.

Jackman will play a Hollywood stunt driver, who brings in a little extra money by driving getaway cars during heists. But he finds himself jolted out of this calm and peaceful existence when a contract is put out on his life.

Marshall has become a really hot property at Universal since Doomsday was released. (Read what our own Eric Snider thought of it here. Scott Weinberg liked it too. ) He was just signed on to direct Sacrilege, a horror movie set in the Old West, which sounds all kinds of cool. He is pretty excited about Drive, and his enthusiasm is very infectious. "This is something I haven't done before, and I've wanted to bring a British sensibility to an L.A. shoot and a scorched classic film noir concept. [Screenwriter Hossein Amini) is a fantastic writer, and he's written three amazing car chases in the film. He's turned them into dramatic scenes as opposed to the usual crash, bang, wallop. I would like to be shooting it this summer."

Scheduling may force Jackman to drop out, but I sincerely hope not. I'm sold at the combination of him and "scorched classic film noir," because it sounds like a great thrill ride -- plus I'm envisioning Jackman as a kinder, gentler Stuntman Mike. But I'm ridiculously easy to please sometimes.