A ruthless killer, CIA agents and the threat of nuclear disaster are heading to Croydon College - after it was chosen as the set of a big-screen blockbuster.

Hollywood A-listers including Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman and Ryan Reynolds are to swap the Walk of Fame for Park Lane during the shooting of thriller Criminal.

The college will be transformed into helicopter landing pad, a fugitive's hideout and CIA headquarters after the "brutal architecture" of its Barclay Road campus attracted filmmakers.

The multi-million-dollar flick, directed by Ariel Vromen, centres on Costner's psychopathic murderer, who has an intelligence agent's brain implanted into his head and must unravel a mystery to foil a terrorist plot.

Frances Wadsworth, Croydon College principal, said: "The Barclay Road campus was chosen for its location and setting, and I think, its iconic brutal architecture, it’s a well known and recognisable part of the Croydon landscape and I’m delighted that it will be preserved via film, for the world to see.

"It’s a little ironic, too because we use Barclay Road annexe as our film and media space."

Filming at the college will begin later this month and finish in November.

The campus's library, foyer and science labs will also feature in the movie, while Croydon College students will get the chance to help out.

Ms Wadsworth said: " "It’s an almost unbelievable opportunity. We have worked very closely with Criminal’s production company to ensure that our students have every opportunity to get involved, and to learn from these seasoned professionals. 

"Drama, make-up, construction, catering, costume and staging roles, as well as project management and health and safety - these are the sorts of employability experiences that don’t often present themselves.

"It’s a fabulous opportunity for Croydon, Croydon College and our students to make their own impression on Hollywood and the international movie-going public."

Security on-set is likely to be tight, if the video below is anything to go by.

One guard is seen resorting to standing in front of would-be photographers to prevent them getting a glimpse of Costner or his co-stars as they shoot scenes for the film on a residential street in Kingston.

No release date has yet been announced for Criminal, which is being produced by Millennium Films.