Claiming the script was “absolutely brilliant”, he said he abandoned the idea after seeing an advert for the George Clooney film The Monuments Men.
Released in 2014, The Monuments Men stars Clooney as the leader of a team of academics who recover art works looted by the Nazis during the second world war.
Johnson suggests Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson for the female lead, and describes enemy jihadis as being “spifflicated” with shovels.
Speaking to the Standard, Johnson said: “I did send it to a very distinguished director, and I’m embarrassed to say that I had no answer back.