Matt Smith could be set to take on the role of notorious murderer and cult leader Charles Manson in an upcoming indie flick.

The Crown and Doctor Who star is reportedly in talks to take on the role in The Family, which comes from American Psycho's Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner.

According to The Tracking Board, Game of Thrones' Hannah Murray and Imposters' Marianne Rendón are also in talks to join alongside Smith.

Digital Spy has reached out to Smith's representatives for comment.

GOT –Hannah Murray as Gilly, in Oldtownpinterest
HBO

The movie is based upon the book The Long Prison Journey of Leslie van Houten: Life Beyond the Cult by Karlene Faith, as well as the 1971 novel The Family by Ed Sanders.

It follows grad student Karlene Faith as she works with three young brainwashed women called Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Susan Atkins.

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Murray is in talks to play Van Houten, while Rendón is being lined up for the role of Atkins, with production slated to start in March.

Charles Manson is escorted to court for preliminary hearing on December 3, 1969pinterest
John Malmin//Getty Images

The Family is not the only Manson-related movie set in the pipeline at the moment, with Quentin Tarantino working on a movie set in 1969 – which he says is not about Manson specifically.

He has reportedly already lined up Leonardo DiCaprio to star in the movie, which will purportedly centre on the murder of actress Sharon Tate.


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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.