Veteran filmmaker Jon Avnet has signed on to direct an action thriller called "Second World," which he promises will be a "ride from beginning to end." The concept sounds solid, Jon, so we're holding you to that promise.

From Variety: "Jon Avnet is set to direct action thriller "Second World," which Emmett/Furla Films will produce with Avent's Brooklyn Films.

Avent, who is in post-production on Al Pacino starrer "88 Minutes," is skedded to begin shooting this fall. Cast has not been set.

"Second," from a spec script by Scott King, revolves around a top assassin -- and mother -- who must stop a deadly virus from spreading. But in order to halt the potential pandemic, she must team up with the virus' creator, who also is her target."

--

Avnet's previous films include "Fried Green Tomatoes" (1991), "The War" (1994), and "Up Close and Personal" (1996). More recently he produced "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."