Frances O'Connor starring in Train

Frances O'Connor is to star in Train.

The 58-year-old actress will lead the cast of the new thriller that will mark the directorial debut of twin brothers Chad and Carey Hayes - the writing duo who have worked on The Conjuring franchise of horror movies.

The picture will see O'Connor reunite with the Hayes brothers as she previously starred in the 2016 flick The Conjuring 2 in the role of Peggy Hodgson.

Blake Northfield and Michelle Krumm are to produce Train through their Bronte Studios banner.

The Hayes brothers said in a statement: "We're thrilled to be making our directorial debut with Train, in partnership with the incredible team at Bronte Studios.

"After years of writing, developing, and living inside the industry, we're excited to finally put all that experience behind the camera. This story has everything we love about our genre and we can't wait to bring this one to life."

Northfield and Krumm added: "The Hayes brothers are known worldwide as the creators of some of the most successful horror films in history; now it's their turn to direct.

"We are beyond thrilled to be producing their directorial debut and incredibly excited to have Frances O'Connor cast. We're looking forward to introducing this film to the marketplace."

Additional information on casting and production is to be revealed at a later date.

The concluding movie in The Conjuring franchise, The Conjuring: Last Rites, was released earlier this month and director Michael Chaves felt it was the right time to bring the popular supernatural horror series to a close.

He told SFX magazine: "I love working with everyone involved but there was a shared sense that it was time to end on a high. You want to stop at the peak. You don't want to be the one who runs a franchise into the ground. This was a rare opportunity to choose when and how to tell that final chapter."

The director admits that he felt pressure to give a perfect ending for ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are played in the film by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively.

The Curse of La Llorona helmer said: "I speak as someone who really loves the series and is fortunate enough to be a part of it, but especially as someone who completely fell in love with the first film.

"I really wanted to bring back that big Conjuring experience: that back-to-basics haunted house movie. To go out in that style."

Production on The Conjuring: Last Rites took place in England, even though it is based on a haunting in Pennsylvania, and Chaves enjoyed working in the country for the first time.

He said: "England's got the best people. They're the hardest-working people.

"But in all seriousness, it was my first time working in England, and I had an incredible time. The crew was absolutely amazing – we lucked into some of the most amazing people. And the actors. This is one of the best casts I've had."