Chris Pine will star in thriller 'The Line'.

The 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' actor has been tapped to play the lead in David Gordon Green's upcoming film about a man who goes on the run to protect an orphaned boy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie centres around a patrol agent, who has recently lost his wife and son and becomes the caretaker of a 10-year-old child orphaned after a shootout with a criminal cartel.

When Pine's character goes on the run to protect the boy, he discovers both sides of the law are after him.

'The Walking Dead' writer and producer Sang Kyu Kim has written the script, while 'Welcome to the Punch' producers Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh are on board to produce, and IM Global's Stuart Ford and Matt Jackson are executive producing.

The project will be pitched to buyers in Berlin by IM Global, which is financing the film.

Green is best known for comedy 'Pineapple Express', but has recently wrapped 'Manglehorn' with Al Pacino and coming-of-age drama 'Joe' with Nicolas Cage.

Pine can next be seen in Disney's musical movie 'Into the Woods' and 'Horrible Bosses 2'.