Forest Whitaker to play Martin Luther King Jr in film?

London: Hollywood star Forest Whitaker has been tipped to play civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr in a new movie.

The 51-year-old Oscar-winning actor is said to be in talks to tackle the lead role in `Memphis`, a new film by Paul Greengrass, the British director responsible for two Bourne films, reported Contactmusic. The movie will recount the final days of King`s life before he was assassinated in 1968 and will be shot in a documentary-style format similar to Greengrass` 9/11 movie United 93. Whitaker is currently favourite to take the coveted role of King. PTI