Described by its makers as a feel-good British comedy in the vein of The Full Monty and Bend it Like Beckham, The Magnificent Eleven is a gentle homage to the Western genre.

After setting up base at 3 Mills Studios in early October to finalise pre-production, filming is set to start on 22 November at locations in and around Stratford, East London.

The Magnificent Eleven was written by Pete and John Adams, working closely with best-selling novelist and screenwriter Irvine Welsh in a departure from the hard-hitting dramas that made him famous, including the cult classic Trainspotting.

A loose remake of the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven, starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, The Magnificent Eleven is set against the backdrop of amateur football.

The heroes are not fearless cowboys but a Sunday League soccer team which reluctantly bands together to save a local Tandoori restaurant from thugs demanding protection money.

Directed by Jeremy Wooding (Peep Show, Bollywood Queen), the film features a cast of British talent including Phillip Rhys (Nip/Tuck), Keith Allen (The Body Farm) and Gary Mavers (Peak Practice). They are joined by American actor and Oscar® nominee Robert Vaughn, the last surviving cast member from the original The Magnificent Seven, who plays the villain in the film. The Magnificent Eleven also features a cameo appearance from Welsh himself as a pub landlord.

Behind the scenes talent includes editor Kant Pan, who was nominated for an Oscar® for his work on The Crying Game.

Produced by Angry Badger Pictures, the project will be filming up until Christmas and will be distributed internationally by Stealth Media Group.