'12 Years a Slave' star Michael Fassbender is set to play Macbeth in a new film version of the William Shakespeare tragedy. The picture will be directed by the Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel, best known for his 2011 crime drama 'Snowtown', reported BBC online.

Macbeth charts the rise and fall of a Scottish general, who seizes the throne with the help of his ambitious wife and eventually sparks a civil war. Shakespeare's play has been tackled in the past by directors such as Roman Polanski, Akira Kurosawa and Orson Welles. The Kurzel version will be produced by See-Saw Films from a script adapted by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff.

The casting of the play's other roles, including Lady Macbeth, has yet to be announced. Fassbender made his screen debut in the sword-and-sandal epic '300', before going on to star in 'Eden Lake', 'Prometheus' and 'Inglourious Basterds'.