James Bond star Rami Malek is lining up a return to TV by playing movie legend Buster Keaton.
The actor, who first broke out with his Emmy-winning TV turn on Mr Robot, is set to portray the Hollywood icon as part of a new limited series.
While a streamer or network is yet to be confirmed, The Batman's Matt Reeves is set to direct and executive produce the series alongside Malek, according to Deadline.
Related: No Time To Die's Rami Malek asked Rachel Bilson to take down "dorky" throwback picture
James Curtis’ Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker’s Life will apparently act as source material, with Succession's Ted Cohen in negotiations to write and executive produce.
Keaton was well-known for his silent movie work in the 1920s, including The General and Sherlock Jr, though suffered a career decline after losing his artistic independence upon signing with MGM, before a resurgence in the 1940s.
Malek famously won an Oscar in 2019 for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, and appeared as the main villain Lyutsifer Safin in 2021 Bond movie No Time to Die.
Related: James Bond fans respond to Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumours
Most recently, he starred in Amsterdam, and will appear in Christopher Nolan's anticipated new movie Oppenheimer later this year.
Speaking back in 2021, Malek expressed his joy about working on Daniel Craig's final Bond movie in a chat with Digital Spy.
"That's the thing about being on a Bond set – you don't want to run back to your trailer. You want to watch everything that's happening from the stunts to the other actors' work to Cary [Joji Fukunaga] directing. It truly is a work of art and something that I'll never forget for the rest of my life," he said.
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment The James Bond Collection 1-24 Blu-ray 2017
Titan Books (UK) No Time To Die: The Making of the Film by Mark Salisbury
MGM Skyfall
Lego James Bond™ Aston Martin DB5
MGM Casino Royale
MGM Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007
MGM Spectre
Orion Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz (with original material by Ian Fleming)
MGM/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment James Bond - The Daniel Craig Collection 4-Pack DVD
Winning Moves James Bond Trivial Pursuit - 007 Edition
MGM/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment James Bond - The Daniel Craig Collection 4K UHD + BD Blu-ray 2019
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
