'Spider-Man' musical star Reeve Carney to play Jeff Buckley

Reeve Carney has been cast as Jeff Buckley in a new biopic of the late singer.

The actor previously appeared in the troubled Broadway production Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

Director Jake Scott's untitled biopic has been approved by the singer's mother and given exclusive access to his songs and personal archive, Collider reports.

Buckley's mother Mary Guibert said in an official statement: "We are over the moon that Reeve has agreed to take on this challenging role. I've seen him perform several times.

"He's been getting ready for this all his life. It certainly doesn't hurt that he looks so much like Jeff."

Scott added: "We are excited to have found in Reeve the perfect combination of musical prodigy, impish charm, innate intelligence and sensitivity to play Jeff."

Carney has also appeared in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark former director Julie Taymor's adaptation of The Tempest starring Helen Mirren.

Another Buckley movie is expected to come out next year, titled Greetings from Tim Buckley.

Greetings from Tim Buckley focuses on an earlier period of Jeff Buckley's life, with Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley playing the star.

Robert Pattinson is reportedly obsessed with playing the singer, who drowned accidentally in the Mississippi River at the age of 30 in 1997.

Watch the video for Jeff Buckley - 'Hallelujah' below: