According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Apted has signed on to direct the political thriller Amazing Grace for Walden Media.

Grace is based on the life of William Wilberforce, a young idealist who as a member of Britain's Parliament navigated the cutthroat world of backroom politics in 18th century England to end slavery in the British Empire.

Apted will be working from a screenplay by Academy Award nominee Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things). Producers on the film include Terrence Malick, Ed Pressman, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt and Ken Wales.