Oscar-winning hollywood star Al Pacino, 65, has signed up to play King Herod in a movie version of Oscar Wilde's biblical drama Salome. Pacino will also direct the tragicomedy that will be called Salomaybe?.

He has played the role of Herod on stage in both New York and Los Angeles. The tragicomedy about lust and betrayal debuted last week at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles.

Salomaybe? will be on the same lines as his 1996 documentary Looking for Richard. The documentary revolved around a stage production of William Shakespeare's play "Richard III".

The privately-funded movie to be made this year will mesh behind-the-scenes footage from the current Los Angeles staging of Wilde's "Salome" with fictional elements.

Barry Navidi, who produced Looking for Richard, will produce the new Salomaybe. "Al is interested in the process that actors go through and what we go through as filmmakers," Navidi is reported to have said.

Navidi assures that the film will be completed this year, adding, "It took Al four years to finish Looking for Richard, but we will have Salomaybe? finished this year and delivered next year at one of the major festivals."

Al Pacino most memorable performances include those in Scarface, The Godfather, The Devil's Advocate, and The Merchant of Venice. His forthcoming movies include Torch, Rififi, and 88 minutes. The last two movies are in pre-production.