Ferdinand & Cole to produce film

Ferdinand and 50 Cent will be working together on the new film

England stars Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole have made a surprise move into film production after getting involved with a new British gangster movie.

Dead Man Running stars rapper 50 Cent and British actor Danny Dyer and has begun filming in London and Manchester.

As executive producers, Ferdinand and Cole have provided some of the finance for director Alex de Rakoff's film.

The plot sees Dyer's character trying to find £100,000 in 24 hours to repay the loan shark played by 50 Cent.

The rapper has already appeared in several films, including the semi-autobiographical Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Righteous Kill.

606: DEBATE What do you make of Ferdinand and Cole's move into the film world?

Ferdinand, who recently said he had wanted to be an actor if football had not worked out for him, is no stranger to the showbusiness world after a previous foray into TV with his show "World Cup Wind-Ups" before the 2006 tournament in Germany.

He also recently took over for a day at BBC Radio 1Xtra where he co-hosted a show and played some of his favourite records.

The 30-year-old, who has set up his own record label, counts 50 Cent among his celebrity friends. Three years ago the American star was even joined by Ferdinand and his team-mate Wayne Rooney on stage at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

Cole, meanwhile, is married to Girls Aloud star and X-Factor judge Cheryl.