Ewan McGregor pictured in Khao Lak, Thailand, on the set of his forthcoming new movie The Impossible in which he stars alongside Naomi Watts and Tom Holland

The Impossible, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage), is the story of a family caught up in the aftermath of the Tsunami which struck the shores of South East Asia in 2004. Filming took place on the beaches around Khao Lak and Kho Phi Phi, south of Phuket.

The synopsis for The Impossible reads:

"Based on a true story, The Impossible is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, The Impossible is a journey to the core of the human heart."

"The Impossible is a compelling account of perseverance and survival in the face of unimaginable disaster and chaos"

It's reported that local businesses have benefited from a welcome increase in tourists during filming, in a region which was amongst the hardest hit in Thailand by the disaster.

The film is due for release in late 2011.