Daniel Radcliffe to star in 'Gold,' film about Sebastian Coe

LONDON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- British actor Daniel Radcliffe is to star in "Gold," the story of Olympic runner Sebastian Coe, Variety said Wednesday.

Set to start shooting next spring in the United Kingdom and Russia, the film is about the athlete's rivalry with Steve Ovett before the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

Radcliffe's "The Woman in Black" director James Watkins is to helm "Gold," which was penned by "Slumdog Millionaire" scribe Simon Beaufoy and Will Davies, author of "How to Train Your Dragon," Variety said.

"Gold is a movie about an insatiable need to win, fueled by intense ambition, only possible through the support of loving family," producer Tim Haslam said in a statement.

Coe won Olympic gold medals in the 1,500 meters in 1980 and 1984. He served in Parliament from 1992-97 and was instrumental in bring the 2012 Olympics to London.