Samuel L to play comic book octopus

Hollywood star Samuel L Jackson is set to play an evil 'Octopus' in a big screen adaptation of comic book The Spirit.

The actor is in talks to play a supervillain in the Frank Miller-directed film.

The movie follows the story of a young cop who is murdered on duty, but reborn as a mystery masked man called The Spirit.

Jackson will play a lab assistant who reinvents himself as The Spirit's arch nemesis, Octopus.

Miller, who adapted the film from a Will Eisner comic book, will makes his solo directing debut - after co-directing 2005's Sin City with Robert Rodriguez.