Oscar-winner Sean Penn has teamed up with Ready Player One star Tye Sheridan for the thriller, Black Flies. The two stars will play the lead roles in the film based on Shannon Burke's novel of the same name.

To be directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire, the story is about lifesaving paramedics and the toll the job takes on them.

Sheridan will essay the role of an idealistic young man who is prepping for medical school and gets a street-side view of things when he drives an ambulance alongside a grizzled veteran (Penn), who is considered to be one of the city's best emergency medics.

Ryan King has penned the screenplay for the film, which is expected to start rolling in New York City late this year.

Sculptor Media's Warren Goz and Eric Gold will produce the project, along with Christopher Kopp, Lucan Toh, and Projected Picture Works' Penn, John Ira Palmer, and John Wildermuth.

Luke Rodgers, Josh Stern, Sheridan, James Masciello, Matthew Sidari, Tom Ortenberg and King will serve as executive producers.