Director Roger Donaldson (The Bank Job) has set two lead actors for his latest film, Cities. Clive Owen and Anil Kapoor will star in the financial thriller that takes place in the months leading up to the Dow Jones reaching an all-time high. The film tells three intertwining stories: a hedge fund manager in New York seemingly has everything, a young couple in London are attempting to buy a new home, and a cop in Mumbai fights against corruption between property speculators and colleagues.

Filming is set to commence in October in multiple locations including New York, London and Mumbai. Parlay Films is set to handle international rights. Donaldson recently wrapped Hungry Rabbit Jumps starring Nicolas Cage, January Jones and Guy Pearce. Hit the jump to read the full press release regarding the aptly named Cities.

Here’s the full press release:

ROGER DONALDSON AND CLIVE OWEN HEAD TO “CITIES”

Parlay Films to Handle International Rights

Acclaimed director / writer Roger Donaldson (HUNGRY RABBIT JUMPS, THE BANK JOB, THE RECRUIT) has locked in his next directing project titled CITIES which will star Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Clive Owen (DUPLICITY, INSIDE MAN, CHILDREN OF MEN, CLOSER) and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star Anil Kapoor.

The financial thriller is being produced by Matthew Metcalfe (DEAN SPANLEY, LOVE BIRDS) and Chris Curling (HANNIBAL RISING, THE LAST STATION).  Donaldson also co-writes the screenplay for CITIES from an original script called EXTREME CITIES written by Glenn Wilhide.

Julie Christie will executive produce alongside Eyeworks New Zealand who will partner on the production.

“We are very excited to be working with two of the finest cinema talents working in the industry today. Clive is one of the finest actors of his generation, while Roger’s consistent high standards, talent and box office success demonstrates his continued ability to deliver films of the highest international caliber,” said Metcalfe.

CITIES is a cautionary tale about greed and ambition that takes place in the exuberant months leading up to the Dow Jones all-time stock market high. Fortunes, both big and small are put at risk as people around the globe gamble that the financial market’s meteoric rise will continue. In New York, a hedge fund manager has everything he wants – money, sex and power, but he wants more.  In London, a young couple just want to buy their first home, but it seems impossibly out of reach. In Mumbai, a cop fights against corruption between property speculators and his colleagues. These stories will all dramatically collide in a world where the fortunes of individuals are interwoven with the lives of others across the globe they have never even met.

The film is set to lens October 2011 shooting in multiple cities that will include London, Mumbai and New York.

“CITIES is a project that I am very enthusiastic about, commented Donaldson. “ Set in the great cities of the world this film will tell a story for our time while also being a relevant, dramatic, exciting and a highly watchable movie”

Lisa Wilson’s Parlay Films will handle international sales for the film and will debut the project at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.  UTA’s Independent Film Group helped to package the film and structure the financing, and will represent domestic rights with CAA.

Owen has risen to the top ranks of international superstar actors having been nominated for an Academy Award for CLOSER and winning a Golden Globe for the same role.   His extensive credits include GOSFORD PARK, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, CHILDREN OF MEN, THE INSIDE JOB, THE INTERNATIONAL, DUPLICITY and SIN CITY.  His upcoming films include THE KILLER ELITE opposite Jason Statham and Robert De Niro and INTRUDERS for Universal Pictures

One of India’s most famous and acclaimed actors, Kapoor has also starred in 20^th Century Fox Television’s award-winning TV series 24 and will next be seen in the next Mission Impossible installment MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL.

Roger Donaldson’s drama thriller HUNGRY RABBIT JUMPS starring Nicolas Cage, Guy Pearce and January Jones is currently in post –production slated for a 2011 release. Working with some of the industry’s leading actors, Donaldson has directed over sixteen films including box office hits NO WAY OUT, THE RECRUIT, THIRTEEN DAYS, DANTE’S PEAK, THE BOUNTY, THE GETAWAY, THE BANK JOB, SPECIES and COCKTAIL.  Donaldson both wrote and directed the acclaimed film THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN starring Anthony Hopkins.