Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn is set to bring a 21st Century spin to Hamlet, in a modern day re-telling of Shakespeare's bloody tale of revenge and despair.

The American novelist has been signed on to re-write the tragedy as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series, which sees well-known authors re-imagine Shakespeare "for contemporary readers".

Other writers involved in the project include Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo, who will take on Macbeth, Margaret Atwood, who will tackle The Tempest and Girl With a Pearl Earring author Tracy Chevalier, who is lined up to pen a modern-day version of Othello.

Anne Tyler will put her writing skills to the test with The Taming of the Shrew and Jeanette Winterson, author of Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, is to give The Winter’s Tale a contemporary makeover.

At first glance, 2012 best-selling thriller Gone Girl doesn't seem to hold much in common with Hamlet.

But dig a little deeper and Gillian Flynn is revealed as an astute choice for one of Shakespeare's darkest plays revolving around themes of madness and revenge.

Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn to re-tell Hamlet