Keira Knightley has revealed that she has always wanted to work with Kenneth Branagh and he was one of the big draws for her to take on the Jacky Ryan project.
The actress will play Jack Ryan's wife in the new movie - which sees Branagh back in the director's chair.
Knightley went on to call Branagh her 'hero' and admits that she is delighted finally be able to work with him.
Speaking to Collider the actress said: "I'm working with Kenneth Branagh who has been a hero of mine since I was about 6 or 7.
"Getting to be directed by him and act with him is something that I just thought, 'I want to do that'."
Chris Pine takes on the title role in the movie while he and Knightley are joined on the cast list by Kevin Costner and Nonso Anozie.
Filming has got underway on the project and it is set for a December 2013 release.
Tagged in Keira Knightley Chris Pine Kenneth Branagh Jack Ryan