Guillermo del Toro has signed on to write and direct the big screen adaptation of cult British science fiction TV series The Champions.

Del Toro, helmer of both Hellboy movies as well as the Academy Award-winning Pan’s Labyrinth, will also produce The Champions along with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner’s production company for United Artists studio.

The adaptation of the TV series, which ran for 30 episodes in 1968-69, is in the early stages of development.

The TV series starred Craig Stirling, Richard Barrett, and Sharron Macready as The Champions, secret government agents for a United Nations law enforcement organization called Nemesis. After surviving a plane crash in Tibet, the trio were rescued by an advanced civilization that endowed them with superhuman powers.

The series was produced by ITC, the company behind other 1960’s British shows like The Prisoner, Thunderbirds, and The Saint. Granada International, which owns the ITC library, optioned the rights to the television series to United Artists. Granada’s Robert Green will be involved with the movie as executive producer.

[Source: The Hollywood Reporter]