John Malkovich and U.K.-based Australian pop star Natalie Imbruglia have signed to star opposite British comedian Rowan Atkinson in Working Title Films' spy spoof "Johnny English," according to the film's producers. Malkovich will play a Machiavellian French business magnate, while Imbruglia makes her feature debut playing a special agent.

The film, to be directed by Peter Howitt ("Sliding Doors"), also stars Ben Miller ("The Parole Officer") as the sidekick to Atkinson ("Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie"), who stars as a bumbling officer with the intelligence agency MI6. The film is scheduled to begin shooting April 15 at Shepperton Studios and on location in Britain.

"I am absolutely delighted to be working with such revered actors on my first movie," said Imbruglia, who is a veteran of the Australian soap opera "Neighbours." "This is a really exciting project, and I can't wait to get started."

Imbruglia's latest RCA album, "White Lilies Island," is No. 92 in its fourth week on The Billboard 200. The single "Wrong Impression" is No. 17 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 Tracks chart. She joined Sugar Ray, Remy Zero, and Vanessa Carlton over the weekend for Houston radio station KRBE's Green Mountain Energy Earth Day concert.