Ron Howard to direct Ben Whishaw and Osy Ikhile as castaways

Two young actors -- one who played Agent Q in "Skyfall" and the other who has had small parts in series such as "Misfits" -- will carry Ron Howard’s next film, "In the Heart of the Sea." An adaptation of a book by Nathaniel Philbrick, the film will tell the tale of two sailors who survive after their whaling ship has been wrecked, Thewrap.com reports.

It’s a film that has been in the making since 2009. Before Ron Howard stepped up to take the reins on this colossal project, it was thought that Edward Zwick ("Defiance," "Blood Diamond") would direct the film, inspired by the non-fictional account in Nathaniel Philbrick’s "In The Heart of the Sea."

Howard will be aided in the writing department by Charles Leavitt, who has authored screenplays for "Blood Diamond," "K-Pax" and "The Express." The film will explore the true story of The Essex, a whaling ship that sank in 1820 after it was attacked by a giant sperm whale. This ordeal marked the start of a long struggle for the surviving crew members, who boarded smaller whaling boats and attempted to sail to South America. The event provided part of the inspiration behind Herman Melville’s "Moby Dick."

British actor Osy Ikhile, who recently appeared in "Misfits," "The Fear" and "Fresh Meat," will play a young sailor named Peterson. Ben Whishaw, best known for his role in the latest James Bond film and for playing a number of characters in "Cloud Atlas," will play the author of "Moby Dick," as Melville will be one of the film’s main characters.

The two actors join a cast that already includes Chris Hemsworth ("The Avengers," "Thor"), Brendan Gleeson (Professor Moody in the "Harry Potter" films), Benjamin Walker ("Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter") and Cillian Murphy ("The Wind That Shakes the Barley," "Inception").

Another Ron Howard project, "Rush," will arrive in North American theaters September 27. The film will explore the legendary rivalry between two Formula 1 pilots, James Hunt and Niki Lauda.