Leonardo DiCaprio sucks up Hoover role

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to play J. Edgar Hoover in an upcoming biopic.  The ‘Titanic’ star has been confirmed to be taking on the role of the FBI director in the currently untitled epic movie about his eventful life, which will be directed by Clint Eastwood.

A source said: “He’s going to spread his wings.”

The 35-year-old actor will film the role later this year, Deadline.com reports.

Legendary actor-turned-filmmaker Clint will co-produce with Brian Grazer and Rob Lorenz through Imagine and Malpaso studios.

The script has been written by ‘Milk’ screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who was working on it with Imagine for 12 months before it was shown to Universal.

However, the company was apparently unhappy with what had been penned so far, so producer Brian took it to Clint and the pair worked on it together.

The film – which will see Leonardo and Clint work together for the first time – is now being funded by Warner Bros.

J. Edgar Hoover became director of the Bureau of Investigation – which was the predecessor to the FBI – in 1924. He was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, and remained as a director of the department until his death in 1972.