Tobey Maguire is in talks to make his directorial debut on the long-awaited film adaptation of Jo Nesbo's 'Blood on Snow'.

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 41-year-old actor - who voices a character in new animation 'The Boss Baby' - is to step behind the camera for the first time on the film, which is inspired by the novella.

This development has been sitting on the shelf for years after rumours that Leonardo DiCaprio was interested in the adaptation of the 2013 book. However, the project fell through due to a scheduling conflict.

Now Tobey's production company Material Pictures and Lawrence Grey's Grey Matter Productions have taken up the rights and it is rumoured they are developing the idea.

Grey Matter's Ben Everard along with Jo's own agent Niclas Salomonsson will be executive producers of the movie.

As well, 'Blood on Snow' author Jo is also penning the screenplay for the anticipated adaptation.

'The Great Gatsby' actor is supposedly going to use the adaptation as his directorial debut following the footsteps of other actors who have been bitten by the directing bug including Ben Affleck and Mel Gibson.

Tobey is also producing Robin Bissell's civil rights drama 'The Best of Enemies' starring Taraji P. Henson.

'Blood on Snow' follows Olav, a hit man who kills people for his employer who is one of Norway's powerful crime bosses.

However, when he is asked to kill his employers own wife, Olav's life gets tangled when he ends up falling for her.

The book is the first in a trilogy written by Jo and 'Blood on Snow' is not the only adaptation by the author coming with 'The Snowman' starring Michael Fassbender to be released in October.