NZ actor lands starring role in film adaptation of Doom

Wellington-born actor Karl Urban, 32, has landed his biggest role as the star of a Hollywood movie adaptation of popular science fiction video game Doom.

Entertainment magazine The Hollywood Reporter said Urban, who recently had supporting roles in The Bourne Supremacy, The Chronicles of Riddick and The Lord of the Rings, would star as John Grimm - leader of a special team that fights aliens.

Production of the multimillion-dollar Universal Pictures movie begins next month. Its release is planned for August next year.

The film will be directed by Polish-born Andrzej Bartkowiak, who has made several Hollywood action films.

Urban's first acting job was at age eight, but the son of German immigrants did not really embark on his vocation until he left Wellington College in 1990.

He starred in New Zealand films The Irrefutable Truth About Demons and The Price of Milk before being picked up by leading Hollywood actors agency Creative Artists Agency.

Doom, where players spend most of their time firing guns at rampaging aliens, is one of the world's most popular video games.

- NZPA