Ledger heads to 'Dogtown'

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Heath Ledger has signed on to star in the skate-boarding movie "The Lords of Dogtown," Daily Variety reported Friday.

Co-starring John Robinson, Victor Rasuk and Emile Hirsch, the film will be directed by "Thirteen" helmer Catherine Hardwicke and is set to start filming in April.

According to the trade paper, "Lords" is a fictionalized version of the 2001 documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys," written and directed by skateboard guru Stacy Peralta, and based on a Spin magazine article that explored 1970s skateboarding culture.

"Lords" follows a group of young California surfers who take their style to the streets as skateboarders.

Best-known for his performances in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Order," Ledger will be seen next in "The Kelly Gang" and "The Brothers Grimm."