Ageing actor RICHARD GERE is set to play a contract killer in spy thriller THE PRETENDER. The PRETTY WOMAN (1990)] star will play a CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) hitman in the $19. 5 million (£15 million) movie.

Frenchman GILLES MIMOUNI will direct the film, also starring VINCENT CASSEL, in Paris and Provence, France.

A source told website ANANOVA. COM, "Gere has been looking for something absorbing with real dialogue and as few special effects as possible. He has always been a fan of European cinema. " (ES/WNWCAN/MCM)

Source: WENN