From The Hollywood Reporter comes word that Rian Johnson (Brick) will pen and direct time-travel thriller Looper.

The film is set in a present-day world where a group of hitmen are sent their targets from the future.

The project will see Johnson and producer Ram Bergman team up. Bergman produced the writer’s previous two films. They are hoping to start sometime in early 2009.

Endgame Entertainment, which financed and produced Johnson’s previous outing, is likely to finance and produce Looper, though it is yet to e confirmed.