Myers 'to play' Who's Keith Moon

Mike Myers will play the late Keith Moon

Austin Powers actor Mike Myers is to play The Who's Keith Moon in a film about the late drummer, according to Variety trade newspaper.

The band's lead singer Roger Daltrey is producing the film of Moon, who died of a prescription drugs overdose in 1978.

The project has been in the pipeline for 10 years, with Mike Myers first expressing interest in 2002.

But now the Canadian comedy star's schedules are finally clear enough to take on the role.

Myers called Moon "a fascinating character", while Daltrey said Myers was "a genius".

Rock lifestyle

The film is being made by Spitfire Pictures, which recently produced Martin Scorsese's documentary on Bob Dylan.

Moon was seen as typifying rock and roll behaviour including trashing hotels.

Moon shared a house in Los Angeles with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, and was close friends with T-Rex's Marc Bolan.

His frenzied drumming was said to be the inspiration for the Muppets character Animal.