The Grammy-winning lyricist will star in the Paramount Pictures film, which will offer a contemporary spin on the 1950's Western series that starred Richard Boone.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, will play a modern version of the show's hero, Paladin, a professional gunslinger and West Point graduate in the original series, who, after the Civil War, lends his deadly talents out as a mercenary for hire.

The setting could be Eminem's hometown of Detroit, but those details have yet to be worked out. Paramount has an 18-month option to develop "Have Gun" as an action drama for Eminem.

The original TV western, starring Richard Boone, ran from 1957 to 1963 and was hugely popular. His black-clad bounty hunting hero carried a business card featuring the figure of a white chess knight--and bearing the transcription: "Have Gun Will Travel...Wire Paladin, San Francisco."

Eminem is also expected to be involved in producing the soundtrack of the new film.

The 33-year-old Grammy-winning rapper rose to stardom with best-selling CDs, deeply personal lyrics and a starring role in the 2002 film "8 Mile." Enditem

(Agencies)