Morgan Freeman to play FBI magician

Los Angeles - Morgan Freeman has signed up to star in new thriller Now You See Me.

The screen veteran has joined the cast of the project which revolves around a group of criminal magicians known as the Four Horsemen who use their tricks to commit bank robberies.

Morgan will play the conjurer character Thaddeus, who is despised by his fellow illusionists for exposing the secrets behind their tricks to try and help the FBI apprehend them.

Impressive collection

The 74-year-old actor joins an impressive collection of actors attached to the film including Amanda Seyfried, Jessie Eisenberg and Inglourious Basterds star Melanie Laurent.

Mark Ruffalo is also reportedly in talks to portray the head of the FBI investigative team.

Summit Entertainment is producing the movie and the script has been penned by Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt.

Morgan is currently shooting Batman sequel The Dark Knight Rises - in which he will reprise his role as Lucius Fox - and he can next be seen in family film Dolphin Tale.