Harry Styles considered for 'Wicked' role

HOLLYWOOD, March 5 (UPI) -- One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles is reportedly at the top of film executives' list for the upcoming movie adaptation of Wicked.

Styles is said to be at the "top of the Wicked team's wish list to play the romantic lead role of Fiyero," and that "movie makers see him as a new Zac Efron and think he would be a perfect casting for a movie musical."

Fiyero serves as the love interest for lead character Elphaba in Wicked. He later becomes The Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, while Elphaba evolves into the Wicked Witch of the West.

Universal Pictures is set to produce the film, and rival entertainment giant Harvey Weinstein shares their interest in Styles. Weinstein joked to The Sun that he also would like to make Styles a Hollywood star, but "first he's got to date three of my daughters. They all think that he's extremely handsome."

It is unknown how playing the part would affect Styles' role in One Direction. Styles and bandmate Liam Payne both recently denied that One Direction is breaking up in response to a flurry of breakup rumors about the band.

Glee songstress Lea Michele is reportedly being considered for the role of Elphaba.

[Metro]