De Niro to play Lombardi in upcoming ESPN movie

Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie.

ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL, The Associated Press reports.

"Lombardi" will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL's worst team to league champions. It is tentatively scheduled to be released in 2012 right before the Super Bowl.

Screenwriter Eric Roth, who won an Oscar for "Forrest Gump," also has signed on to the project.