While we in the West have vague notions that Iran isn’t exactly the greatest place in the world, it’s fairly rare that we get stories emerging about life in the country. Now Kari Skogland (Fifty Dead Men Walking) is hoping to help remedy that, with a movie based on Marina Nemat’s memoir, Prisoner of Tehran: One Woman’s Story of Survival Inside an Iranian Prison.

In the hope of ensuring some international interest in the tale, the producers are lining up some well known names, with Moviehole reporting that Ewan McGregor and Evan Rachel Wood are in talks for the movie. Neither will be pretending to be middle-eastern, as they’re expected to take supporting roles,

Nemat was a young girl when the Islamic Revolution changed the face of Iran in 1979. During her teenage years she became increasingly interested in the Koran and politics. At her school, Nemat decided to speak out what she though was wrong, and ultimately caused a student walk out.

Her rebellion was taken very seriously by Iranian officials. She was arrested and thrown in the infamous Tehran prison called Evin. Here she was tortured and sentenced to death for her perceived crimes against the state. An unlikely chance at salvation came at the hands of a guard named Ali, who had fallen in love with her.