Actor Hopper 'in Crash TV series'

Hopper directed and co-starred in 1969 road movie Easy Rider

Veteran actor Dennis Hopper will star in a 13-part US TV adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Crash, according to industry reports.

The Hollywood Reporter said the series, which will appear on US cable channel Starz, would feature different characters from those in the 2005 film.

Reports suggest Hopper, 72, will play Ben - a maverick music producer.

The film, which beat Brokeback Mountain to win best picture in 2006, focused on racial tensions in Los Angeles.

The TV series is due to begin in October.

It is only the second time a best picture Oscar winner has been turned into a TV series. In the Heat of the Night, made in 1967, became a drama for CBS two decades later.

Crash was made by Lionsgate Entertainment in 2005 on a budget of $6.5m (£3.3m) and featured an all-star cast including Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon and Ryan Philippe.

Hopper is best known for his roles in Blue Velvet and Easy Rider.