Matt Smith is set to play cult leader Charles Manson in a new film.
Smith, who played Doctor Who from 2010-14 and recently portrayed Prince Philip in the Netflix series The Crown, will take on the role for his next project. The news follows just under three months after Manson’s death at the age of 83.
The actor will portray Manson in the upcoming film Charlie Says, which is being directed by American Psycho filmmaker Mary Harron. Smith will star alongside Suki Waterhouse, Cara Gugino and Game of Thrones star Hannah Murray in the movie.
As The Hollywood Reporter reports, the movie will focus on “the three young women who were sentenced to death following the infamous murder case of Manson. When the death penalty was lifted, their sentence became life imprisonment. One young graduate student, Karlene Faith [played by Merritt Wever], was sent in to teach them, and through her the film will follow their transformations as they face the reality of their horrific crimes.”
Filming of Charlie Says will begin in the spring in LA.
Back in November, Smith hinted at an unlikely return to Doctor Who – but only if “the timing was right”.