He has fronted one of the most iconic metal bands of all time for more than three decades, but now James Hetfield is turning his attention to the silver screen.

The Metallica frontman has landed a part in 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile', the forthcoming Ted Bundy biopic that is set to star Zac Efron as the notorious serial killer.

Hetfield will play the role of 'no-nonsense' highway patrolman Bob Hayward, who was the first police officer to arrest Bundy, according to Deadline.

Rather than just a random casting, however, there's a history between Hetfield and and 'Extremely Wicked...' director Joe Berlinger; Berlinger co-directed and produced the Metallica documentary 'Some Kind of Monster' and later wrote a book about the experience.

He said in a statement: "Having spent hundreds of hours behind the scenes with James and the rest of Metallica, I have experienced his charisma and powerful presence close up. It seemed only natural that he would bring that same power and magnetism to a dramatic role, so when he agreed to my pitch that he be in the movie, I was thrilled.”