Eminem 'to star as bounty hunter'

Eminem is "intrigued and excited" about playing a bounty hunter

Rapper Eminem is to star in a movie remake of 1950s TV Western series Have Gun - Will Travel, reports say.

Variety claimed Paramount Pictures was developing a present-day version of the drama, with Eminem as a bounty hunter.

The original programme ran for six years in the US and starred Richard Boone as Paladin, a gunman-for-hire.

The trade paper said Eminem had been having "a hard time" finding the right acting role since making his film debut playing a young rapper in 8 Mile.

It said there had not yet been a decision on whether the remake would be set in Detroit, the home city of the star - real name Marshall Mathers - and also the location for 8 Mile.

He was likely to be involved in any musical element of the film such as the soundtrack, it said, but it would not be a music-themed movie.

"When this property essentially became available, we discussed it and brought it to Marshall," Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg is quoted as saying.

"He was very intrigued and excited about the concept."

The project was said to be only in the early stages of development.