Atonement director for India epic

British film-maker Joe Wright has signed up to direct an epic about the final days of British rule in India.

Indian Summer, based on a book by Alex von Tunzelmann, is set in 1947 as Louis Mountbatten transfers power to India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Wright's last two films, Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, both starred Keira Knightley and were Oscar nominated.

Casting for Indian Summer is to be confirmed and filming will start on location in India in 2010.