Robert Redford is set to direct the historical drama The Conspirator, the story of Mary Surratt, alleged conspirator of Abraham Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, according to the Risky Biz Blog.

James Solomon penned the screenplay. Producers are out to cast, with James McAvoy said to be at the top of their list for one of the lead roles.

Mary Surratt was a Washington D.C. boardinghouse owner who sympathized with the Confederates, and was allegedly part of the plot to kill Lincoln, supplying Wilkes Booth and his accomplice David Herold weapons at her tavern after the assassin had shot the president at Ford's Theater.

The indie plans to shoot this fall.