Jared Leto is set to star in a film about Andy Warhol's life.

Jared Leto

Jared Leto

The 44-year-old actor and musician will produce the project, which will be based around the life of the pop artist, and take on the lead role himself.

Leto is the first star to have signed up for the the biopic, which is called 'Warhol'.

Michael De Luca will also act as producer on the project, following the success of films such as 'Moneyball' and 'The Social Network'.

Terence Winter - who wrote 'The Wolf of Wall Street' - will pen the screenplay for the biopic, drawing source material from Victor Bockris' 1989 book entitled 'Warhol: The Biography'.

Sources have told The Hollywood Reporter that Jared and Michael, 51, have joint rights to the book, after having the desire to work together for some time.

When the script from Terence, 55, is complete, the team will begin their search for a director and further cast members.

Jared is currently working on his role in 'Blade Runner 2', where he is said to be playing a "memorable, never before seen character".

While full details of his alter-ego have not been released, reports suggest he will have a "key role" in the movie.

The news of Jared's new movie ventures comes after he said last month that he believes Hollywood is "very conservative".

He said: "I definitely don't think a gay leading man would have the same opportunities as a straight leading man. I don't think that. Not for a single second. I don't know if that's offensive or not, but that's my thought right now.

"It shouldn't be that way. I don't think you'll have as many opportunities. And I think you could say the same for minorities ... I think that this is still a very conservative business."