Los Angeles, Apr 5 (IANS/EFE): Four years after the release of "Inglorious Basterds", Brad Pitt will be returning to the theme of World War II as the star of David Ayer's "Fury", show-business blog Deadline said.

The actor is in the final stage of talks to join the project, which is based the actual experiences of a US tank crew battling the Germans in the waning months of the conflict.

Filming is scheduled to start in September, Deadline said.

Indie producer QED International paid $1 million for Ayer's screenplay.

The film aims to "bring a fresh execution to the genre", Ayer told Deadline. "What these men went through is worthy of a complex, honest portrayal. This will have incredible, visceral action and complex rich characters. I plan to bring tank combat to life in a way that lands with a modern audience."

Ayer and QED recently worked together on "Ten", an action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington and Mireille Enos that is set for release next January.

Pitt both acted and directed in his latest project, "World War Z", which will be in US cinemas in June.