Butler to star in football flick

Gerard Butler is to star in a new soccer movie.

The '300' actor - an avid Celtic fan - has signed up to appear in 'Dynamo', a true-life tale which chronicles an historic game between an occupied Ukrainian team and their Nazi captors during World War II.

The game - which was dubbed The Death Match - saw the Nazis pit a squad of well-treated German players against a starving group of Ukrainians with the expectation of an easy win.

However, their opponents, spurred on by goalkeeper Nikolai Trusevich - who Gerard will play - fought back and ultimately inspired their entire city.

The film is based on Andy Dougan's book 'Dynamo: Defending The Honour Of Kiev' and has a script by Eli Richbourg.

The project does not yet have a director in place, but Riviera Pictures, Beau Flynn of FlynnPictureCo., and Jeremy Garelick will produce.

Pathé co-developed and will co-produce and distribute the film worldwide.

'Dynamo' will shoot in Europe some time next year.