Hyde Park snatched up the rights to Andy McNab's Nick Stone spy novels, reports VARIETY. Based on the third novel, FIREWALL, the first film, ECHELON, follows soldier of fortune Nick Stone and a cagey female cryptographer as they attempt to disable a worldwide surveillance program. McNab adapted the script with John Connor.

The production is the first production via Hyde Park's funding deal with Imagenation, which will see the studios produce 20 films over seven years for around $250 million.

Bonnie Timmerman, who held the rights to the books, will produce with Hyde Park head Ashok Amritraj. Previously, Timmerman sold the rights to Harvey Weinstein in 2001, but he let the rights run out.

McNab, Connor, Imagenation's Mohamed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei and Edward Borgerding are exec producing. Imagenation's Stefan Brunner is the associate producer. Patrick Aiello overseeing for Hyde Park.