Jessica McNamee signs on as the female lead in the shark thriller Meg alongside Jason Statham and Chinese actress Bingbing Fan.

(Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Former Sirens actress Jessica McNamee has joined the upcoming shark blockbuster Meg as the female lead, EW has confirmed.

McNamee, who also costars in the upcoming CHiPs big screen adaptation, will star opposite Jason Statham in the Warner Bros. film. Based on Steve Alten’s 1997 novel MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror, the story will follow a former naval captain (Statham) who is tasked with rescuing a group of Chinese scientists trapped in their underwater observation program in the Mariana Trench. The title of the film is derived from “Megalodon,” the ancient shark-like creature.

Jon Turtletaub (National Treasure) will direct the film, which has an expected release date of March 2, 2018.

McNamee can also be seen in the upcoming Emma Stone dramedy Battle of the Sexes.