Samuel L. Jackson to play Martin Luther King

Samuel L. Jackson has been confirmed for the role of Martin Luther King Jr in the Broadway production The Mountaintop.

The actor will take on the part of the legendary civil rights leader in the play, which presents a fictionalised account of the events that took place the night before King Jr's assassination in April 1968, beginning this fall.

Jean Doumanian Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, Ambassador Theatre Group, Jerry Frankel, Ted Snowdon, Bob Bartner and Tom Wirtshafter will co-produce the show, with A Raisin In The Sun's Tony Kenny acting as director.

"The Mountaintop is a brilliantly conceived gem of a play. An ambitious work of fiction that is powerful, heartbreaking, humorous and exhilarating," Doumanian and Friedman said in a joint statement.

"We are thrilled to be bringing Katori Hall's remarkable, Olivier-winning work to New York, and to present a singular new American voice to Broadway audiences. And we are honoured to be presenting the Broadway debut of the great Samuel L. Jackson."

The Mountaintop will premiere on September 22 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Halle Berry was previously rumoured to appear in the production, though her current custody battle will prevent her from joining the cast.

Jackson was recently announced for the modern film noir The Samaritan.