Jeremy Irons is joining Viola Davis and Emma Thompson in Alcon Entertainment's adaptation of the New York Times bestseller "Beautiful Creatures," the company said Tuesday.

"Beautiful Creatures" is the first of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's supernatural thrillers, and Alcon has film rights to all three of the books. The company is hoping to turn "Beautiful Creatures" into a franchise.

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The movie is about Ethan, a teen-aged boy, and Lena, a mysterious new girl in town. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their families and the town where they live.

Also read: Viola Davis to Star in Alcon's Adaptation of 'Beautiful Creatures' [6]

Irons will play Macon Ravenwood, Lena's mysterious uncle.

Davis plays Amma, a seer who watches after Ethan and his father after the boy's mother dies. Jack O'Connell plays Ethan and Alice Englert plays Lena.

Erwin Stoff ("The Matrix," "I Am Legend") will produce with Alcon's co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove.

Richard LaGravenese, who directed Alcon's "P.S. I Love You," and wrote "Water for Elephants," "The Bridges of Madison County" and "The Fisher King," is directing.

The movie begins filming in April in and around New Orleans.