Oscar winner Adrien Brody will soon be able to add bullfighting to his impressive resume after signing up to play legendary matador Manuel Rodriguez in a new movie.

The actor, who famously starved himself to play an emaciated Holocaust survivor in The Pianist, will jet off to Spain in January to work with a top bullfighter in preparation for his role in Manolete.

Spaniard Penelope Cruz will play actress Lupe Sino in the film. Sino was Rodriguez's longtime lover.

The film, which will be set in 1940s Spain, follows Rodriguez's triumphs in the bullring up to his tragic death in 1947, aged just 30.