Photographer-turned-filmmaker Anton Corbijn is to direct a new movie about tragic Hollywood legend James Dean's friendship with Life Magazine contributor Dennis Stock.

Stock was a young snapper when he befriended Dean early in his career and became the star's personal photographer.

He took a series of iconic shots of the East of Eden star during a cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to New York.

Corbijn is slated to start work on the movie, titled Life, early next year (14), according to The Hollywood Reporter.