Martin Scorcese has begun arranging his lineup for the upcoming movie adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. According to Deadline Hollywood, Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) will play the young titular character and Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) will take the part of Isabelle, a local shop keeper’s goddaughter. Ben Kingsley and Sasha Baron Cohen will also have roles in the feature.

If you haven’t had the chance to read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it is a unique experience. In its over 500 pages of text and unbelievable illustrations (it won the Caldecott Medal) it conveys a touching story that could lend itself to a stunning film adaptation. The book itself feels cinematic. Cabret is a twelve-year-old orphan living in the walls of the Paris train station, whose goal is to finish building and operating an automaton his deceased father began years before. He thinks the automaton, when working, will write out a message from his father.

Having Scorsese attached to the adaptation is encouraging and could make for a particularly exceptional film.