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Dwayne Johnson signs up for Hercules

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has officially signed up to play legendary strong-man Hercules.

The movie - to be directed by 'Tower Heist' filmmaker Brett Ratner - will be co-produced by Paramount and MGM, following months of negotiations.

It will be based on the graphic novel 'Hercules: The Thracian Wars', and has been adapted by Ryan Condal from Radical Studios.

Even Spiliotopoulos also contributed to the script, Deadline.com reports.

The comic tells the tale of Hercules working with the Thracian army to turn them into one of the most ruthless in the world.

Production is expected to take part in early 2013.

Dwayne is well known for taking on alpha-male roles, having previously taken part in the 'Fast & Furious' franchise and playing a character named Roadblock in the forthcoming 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'.

He has a number of big roles lined up, including a part in body-building movie 'Pain and Gain' and a rumoured part in 'Arabian Nights' playing Sinbad.