Guy Pearce joins the cast of "Equals"

The Wrap Drake Doremus will direct the romance from Scott Free and Route One, which begins shooting in August.

Guy Pearce has joined Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult in the cast of the futuristic romance “Equals,” producers Scott Free Productions and Route One Films said Thursday.

Filming will begin in Japan and Singapore in August on the Drake Doremus-directed tale. Doremus (“Like Crazy”) previously worked with Pearce on his feature “Breathe In.”

“Equals,” set in a society where emotions have been eradicated, is written by Nathan Parker (“Moon”).

It is produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Ann Ruark, and Jay Stern and Chip Diggins of Route One, who are also financing the movie. Mike Pruss, Lee Jea Woo, Choi Pyung Ho and Russell Levine are executive producers.

Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international on the film and was selling it at the Cannes Film Market. It has so far sold in more than 35 territories.

Pearce is currently starring in David Michod's “The Rover” with Robert Pattinson. He's also recently starred in the blockbuster “Iron Man 3,” “Prometheus” and sci-fi action feature “Lock Out.”

More details on the synopsis:

Variety “Equals” is set in a world where there is no greed, no poverty, no violence, and no emotion. But a new disease is threatening everyone: SOS, or Switched-On-Syndrome, activating depression, sensitivity, fear, love — and once a person is overtaken, they are sent away  and never seen again.

THR The film is billed as a futuristic love story set in a society where emotions have been eradicated. It is about the joy of finding connection, and the fear of having it taken away.