Smith 'to play pharoah' in movie

Smith was recently named the best-paid actor in Hollywood by Forbes

Actor Will Smith is to play a pharaoh in ancient Egypt in a new Hollywood drama, trade publication Variety said.

The Men in Black star will take the role of Taharqa, who was a pharoah in the 7th Century BC, in a movie focusing on a war with rival nation Assyria.

Smith's last film, Hancock, topped the US and UK charts when released in July.

The star, who is co-producing Taharqa, was also named the highest-paid actor in Hollywood by Forbes magazine.