Kirsten-DunstHaving worked with Michael Shannon on his first three films, Jeff Nichols is set to reunite with the actor once more for his upcoming project, Midnight Special, and now he’s found his female lead to star opposite.

Deadline report that Warner Bros. have set Kirsten Dunst to take one of the leads alongside Shannon and Joel Edgerton.

Plot details are largely being kept under wraps on this one, but it’s set to revolve around a father and his 8-year-old son, who go on the run after the dad realises his son has some kind of special powers.

Nichols made his debut back in 2007 with Shotgun Stories, and really made a name for himself with 2011’s Take Shelter, which swept up awards on the festival circuit.

He returned to Cannes last year with his third feature, Mud, led by Matthew McConaughey, which has been earning similar praise from critics in the months since then.

Needless to say, Nichols has quickly become a must-see writer-director who remains on everyone’s radar, and Midnight Special is certainly shaping up to be something to look forward to.

Dunst was most recently seen opposite Jim Sturgess in Upside Down and making up the terrific ensemble in Walter Salles’ adaptation of On the Road. She’ll soon be seen in Hossein Amini’s directorial debut, The Two Faces of January, alongside Viggo Mortensen and Oscar Isaac, which could well become a contender in the awards season this year. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s expected to cameo in Anchorman: The Legend Continues this December as well.

No word yet on exactly when production is expected to begin on Midnight Special, but here’s to hoping it will be sooner rather than later. The premise and cast alone are enough to raise the anticipation for Nichols’ next film.