Al Pacino joins Despicable Me 2

Los Angeles - Al Pacino is set to make his animated film debut in Despicable Me 2.

The Scarface actor will voice the part of a villain in the movie - a follow-up to the 2010 comedy motion picture - who is set to be the nemesis of Gru (Steve Carell), Deadline reports.

Javier Bardem was previously rumoured to be in line to play a bad guy called called El Macho in the film - which is set to be directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud - but he is no longer thought to be attached to the project.

Crime boss

Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews and Will Arnett are all expected to reprise their roles for the film, which is planned to be released in the US summer of 2013 through Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment.

Last year, Al - who is well known for playing mob leader Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather movies - joined the cast of Gotti: Three Generations, which will tells the story of the crime boss and his son.

Director Marc Fiore said: "We are very pleased to have Al join the extraordinary team that we are assembling to make this movie.

"Pacino will portray Gambino crime family underboss and Gotti associated Neil Dellacroce.

"He is one of the finest actors of all time and will bring an unsurpassed level of reality and excitement to the film."