Los Angeles, Sep 18 (IANS): Actor Jason Statham will be the executive producer and star of a new TV drama from Gaumont International Television titled "Viva La Madness".

Described as an action thriller, the series is based on author J.J. Connolly's similarly-named book, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Connolly also wrote the book's prequel titled "Layer Cake" which was adapted into a 2004 movie starring Daniel Craig.

"Viva La Madness" follows an anonymous hero who is stranded in the Caribbean itching for the criminal life he left behind - even though he's still a wanted man back home. Soon he joins forces with two robust London gangsters: the menacing Sonny King and his paranoid partner Roy "Twitchy" Burns.

"'Viva La Madness', with its riveting characters and twisting storyline, is a volatile cocktail of action and comedy that only J.J. Connolly can create," Gaumont International Television CEO Katie O'Connell Marsh said.

The project was originally developed as a feature film but they eventually decided to turn it into an hour-long series written by Connolly.