Justin Timberlake could become the next action man, with a rumoured role in Fully Automatic.

The former N Sync star has proven his drama mettle in The Social Network and shown us his comedy chops in Bad Teacher and the upcoming Friends With Benefits, but could be shaking his career up in the action film.

According to Vulture, the singer-turned-actor is "attached" to star in the movie, produced by Joel Silver. It's still in early days, as there are no details about a director, writer or other cast members.

Described as in a similar vein to Lethal Weapon, Fully Automatic has been in development since 2009.

The story centres on two rookie cops who team up with a female former Delta Force agent to stop a mercenary who has stolen a cache of weapons.

Justin - who has also appeared in Alpha Dog and Edison and lent his voice to the Shrek films and Yogi Bear - next stars in rom-com Friends With Benefits alongside Mila Kunis, and sci-fi thriller In Time (formerly known as I'm.mortal) with Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy.