Published: November 24, 2009

Hugh Jackman's Robot Role

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Hugh Jackman is to take the lead in robot movie 'Real Steel'.

The 'X-Men' actor has been lined up to play an unlucky Robot Boxing promoter in the first film Steven Spielberg and movie boss Stacey Snider will release through the recently-changed DreamWorks.

The plotline is based on a short story by Richard Matheson, and will see the 41-year-old hunk's luck change when he finds a discarded robot who has a secret talent as a boxer.

Director Shawn Levy said: "It is a rousing sports movie about a former boxer who can no longer do the only job he's good at, and one particular robot that may be his return to grace."

Hugh Jackman's robot role

'Reel Star' will be the first film for DreamWorks since the movie company split from Paramount last year.

The script - which was originally penned by Dan Gilroy - is one of the 17 projects Spielberg and Snider took with them during the separation of the two companies.

Insiders claim bosses have a budget of just $80 million to fund the film, all of which will be put up by DreamWorks. However, Paramount can opt to put in half the amount if they wish.

Mark Sourian - co-president of production at DreamWorks - admits staff are very excited about the project.

He explained to Variety.com: "When we took it with us, we really highlighted it as something we would put the pedal to metal on. It's a project that Steven always wanted to do. It just came together rapidly after we left Paramount."

Production is due to begin in June.