Controversial British director Michael Winterbottom ("9 Songs", "Code 46", "The Road to Guantanamo") has set yet another hot button project as his next film - "Murder in Samarkand" reports Production Weekly.

Based on the memoirs of Craig Murray, the former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, the film will follow his famous firing in 2004 after drawing attention to torture and human rights abuses in Uzbekistan.

Comedian Steve Coogan, who has worked twice with Winterbottom before on "24 Hour Party People" and "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story" is tipped to be playing Murray in the film which is expected to be taking a year to set up.

In the meantime, Winterbottom will move forward with Italian-set ghost story "Genova" about a man and his two daughters who move to Genova after his wife dies.