The Welsh actor will play the adventurer in In High Places, which will chronicle Mallory's ill-fated expedition to Mount Everest in 1924.

Mallory vanished near the summit and his body wasn't found until 1999.

Trainspotting star Kelly MACDonald has been cast as Mallory's wife, Ruth, and Sherlock villain Andrew Scott will portray Mallory's friend and fellow climber Noel Odell.

According to Screen Daily, filming is due start in India, London and Cologne, Germany later this year (15).

A rival film about Mallory had also been in development with director Doug Liman, although pre-production on The Summit appears to have stalled since its announcement in 2012. Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch had both previously been linked to the lead role.