Eastwood feels lucky with 'Dirty Harry' film

Veteran actor/director Clint Eastwood is resurrecting the 'Dirty Harry' franchise with the series' first film in 20 years.

On Tuesday, studio executives at Warner Brothers revealed the 77-year-old legend will direct and star in Gran Torino. No further details were released, other than the project has a December release date pencilled in.

However, according to movie news website AintItCoolNews.com, 'Gran Torino' will be the sixth 'Dirty Harry' film, and the first since 1988's 'The Dead Pool'.

Oscar-winning Eastwood, who last acted in 2004's 'Million Dollar Baby', also starred as maverick cop Inspector Harry Callahan in 'Dirty Harry' (1971), 'Magnum Force' (1973), 'The Enforcer' (1976) and 'Sudden Impact' (1983), which he directed.

'Gran Torino's plot reportedly follows a retired Callahan as he hunts down the killer of two police officers, one of whom is his grandson. The villain drives a Ford Torino.

Eastwood is not the only ageing action hero returning to his roots - Sylvester Stallone recently resurrected his 'Rocky' and 'Rambo' franchises; Bruce Willis made his first 'Die Hard' movie in 12 years; and Harrison Ford is back as '80s hero 'Indiana Jones' this summer.