Filmmaker Steven Knight will shoot the film in real time over the course of 90 minutes; production gets underway later this month in London.

Tom Hardy is set to headline filmmaker Steven Knight's Locke, which IM Global's specialty label Anthem has come aboard to fully finance.

Locke, from Paul Webster, Joe Wright and Guy Heely's Shoebox Films, is sure to draw keen interest from foreign buyers at the European Film Market, where IM Global will launch the project. The market gets underway today in conjunction with the Berlin International Film Festival.

Based on an original screenplay from Knight, Locke tells the story of one man’s life unraveling in a tension-fuelled, 90-minute race against time (Knight will shoot in real time over 90 minutes). Ivan Locke has the perfect family, his dream job, and tomorrow should be the crowning moment of his career. But one phone call will force him to make a decision that will put it all on the line.

Knight is set to begin production later this month in London, with Webster and Heeley producing.

IM Global, Shoebox and Knight previously collaborated on Hummingbird,  to be released by Lionsgate later this year.

"I'm really excited to be working with Tom Hardy on an innovative piece of filmmaking which will exercise his immense talent to the full. That IM Global is coming with us on this literal and metaphorical journey is testament to their creative ambition," Knight said.

Said IM Global CEO Stuart Ford: "We enjoyed the ride with Steven, Paul and Guy so much that we're delighted to be in business with the same team on Locke. Adding a brilliant talent like Tom to the equation makes the prospect all the more exciting."