Peter Sarsgaard has joined the cast of Pablo Escobar biopic 'Escobar'.

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard

The 45-year-old actor will star alongside husband and wife pair Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz in the movie about the infamous Colombian drug lord.

The movie is being directed by Fernando Leon De Aranoa, who is also responsible for penning the script which is based on the true story of the unlikely romantic relationship between Escobar and Colombian TV anchorwoman Virginia Vallejo from 1983 to 1987, which was documented in her book 'Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar'.

In the movie, Sarsgaard is to play DEA agent Neymar who is trying to bring a case against Escobar.

Bardem, 47, is to portray the cocaine kingpin with Cruz, 42, playing Vallejo.

Production on the film is due to begin in November.

It is the latest project to tell the incredible story of Escobar's life.

Netflix series 'Narcos', starring Brazilian actor Wagner Moura in the lead role, has won rave reviews and there have been two previous movies 2009's 'Escobar' and 2011's 'Killing Pablo'.

Sarsgaard is currently appearing in the remake of western 'The Magnificent Seven' and he will next be seen in Jackie Kennedy biopic 'Jackie' with Natalie Portman - who portrays the First Lady to assassinated American President John F. Kennedy.