The humble hippopotamus is finally getting its chance to shine on the big screen thanks to an upcoming project being launched at the American Film Market.

Survival thriller “Hungry” — being sold by Signature Entertainment — pits a hungry hippo against a group of tourists, and comes from James Nunn, behind the “One Shot” action thriller franchise. Principal photography has now kicked off in Malta, with Nunn directing from his own screenplay and Signature’s head of U.K. production Ben Jacques producing. Signature’s CEO Marc Goldberg and head of production & development Sarah Gabriel (“Riff Raff,” “The Estate”) will serve as executive producers.

“Hungry” centers on a group of holidaymakers who must fight for their lives against a rampaging hippo on the loose after becoming lost in the Louisiana swamplands.

Alongside announcing the project, Signature has also secured a number of deals including Acontracorriente in Spain; CDC in Latin America; Phoenicia...