Christopher Walken will star in 'Jersey Boys'.

'The Deer Hunter' actor has been cast as mobster Angelo 'Gyp' DeCarlo in Clint Eastwood's big screen version of the Broadway musical.

In the Tony award-winning show, the character plays a mentoring role to the young singers - who go on to form 1960s group The Four Seasons - as they try to make it in music while avoiding a life of organised crime.

News of the 70-year-old star's casting comes after Eastwood revealed he wasn't going to choose A-list names to play the singers but rather select them from the various casts performing the show.

Deadline is reporting he has already chosen Vincent Piazza, John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, and Michael Lomenda for the lead roles.

The film, scripted by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, will be produced by Graham King and Rob Lorenz and executive produced by core Four Seasons members Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio.

The soundtrack for the Warner Bros and GK Films feature will include some of the vocal group's biggest hits including 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Sherry' and 'Rag Doll'.

Walken is an accomplished dancer seems a fitting choice for the role, having dabbled in musical movies with 2007's 'Hairspray'.

Production begins mid-September in Los Angeles.