Danny Boyle is to direct a film about a trapped mountaineer who cuts off his own arm.
The director - whose film 'Slumdog Millionaire' won eight Oscars for the uplifting film - will direct '127 Hours', a film based on the true-life ordeal of American mountaineer Aron Ralston who had to cut off his own arm with a penknife after it became trapped beneath a fallen boulder.
Ralston was pinned against the Utah mountainside without water for five days in 2003 and survived by drinking his own urine before eventually hacking off his arm with a blunt knife and a pair of pliers.
He subsequently wrote a book about the ordeal called 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' and became a hit on the American talkshow circuit and as a corporate speaker.
Speaking of his story, Aron has said: "It's saved lives from depression. It's saved lives from boredom. People tell me they quit their jobs after hearing my story."
As well as Danny, 'Slumdog Millionaire' producer Christian Colson will work on '127 Days', while scriptwriter Simon Beaufoy is in talks to write the screen adaptation.
'127 Hours' is due to start filming early next year for release in late 2010 with 'Half Nelson' actor Ryan Gosling rumoured to play Aron.