Russell Crowe to write, direct and play Marco Pierre White in biopic movie

Russell Crowe is taking on the life of hell-raising chef Marco Pierre White in a new biopic project, according to White himself.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he revealed that the New Zealand-born star is writing, directing and appearing in the movie too (no news yet on the theme tune).

But the Gladiator star will only play 'one' of the incarnations of White, most likely in his elder years, rather than employing Irishman style de-aging tech.

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“I have just signed the deal. Russell has written the script, Russell’s company is producing it, Russell is directing it and Russell is playing the third or fourth Marco,” said White.

“When they do a movie on your life, you don’t just have one Marco – I am nearly 60. If there was anyone in Hollywood to play me, it would have to be Russell.”

White was the preeminent British chef of his generation, known as much for his fiery temper in the kitchen as he was for his professional accolades.

After studying under the Roux brothers, Pierre Koffman and Raymond Blanc, he won his first two Michelin stars at his restaurant Harvey's in South London, where he trained a young Gordon Ramsay.

At 32, he became the youngest chef ever to hold three stars.

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Plans for a movie about his rise to fame have been in the pipeline for some time, with Michael Fassbender set to play him at one stage, with Ridley Scott directing.

White added that after meeting with Crowe to discuss the project, 'I thought to myself, “Actually, I think Russell Crowe should be playing me, not Michael Fassbender”'.

The chef, who has hosted MasterChef in Australia, published his memoir White Slave in 2006.