Waltz to play Gorbachev

Actor Christopher Waltz is to play Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev in the forthcoming biopic of the 1986 Reykjavik Summit.

The 'Inglorious Basterds' star will play opposite Michael Douglas, who was announced as playing former US president Ronald Reagan over the summer.

[Related story: Michael Douglas to play Reagan]

Veteran British director Mike Newell, who's directed the likes of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' and 'Donnie Brasco', will helm the project, which has been written by Kevin Hood.

The film, called 'Reykjavik', will centre around the climactic summit, which resulted in the beginning of the end of the Cold War.

“I feel very fortunate to have two such masters to portray the men who brought about the end of the third great war of the 20th Century. Reagan and Gorbachev were two of the most significant politicians and individuals of their times,” said Newell.

“I'm very excited to see how each of these great actors gets to grips with their role as the history-changing giants we remember them to have been.”

The film will start shooting in March next year.

Waltz will next be seen in Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained', alongside Jamie Foxx, due out in January.