44-year-old Hollywood tough guy Vinnie Jones has reportedly landed the role of infamous Balkan fighter Arkan in 'The Filthy War'.

A source said: "It's a going to be a hard-hitting, gritty action film and Vinnie has been cast to strike the fear of God into audiences."

The movie is loosely based on the true story of the late Bolivian-born war correspondent Eduardo Flores, who called for international volunteers to help defend the Croatian town of Osijek from Serbian militants.

Arkan - real name Zeljko Raznatovic - was a Serbian paramilitary leader who was linked to several massacres and brutal ethnic cleansing during the conflict in the Balkans.

He led a group of 10,000 fighters, known as Arkan's Tigers, before being assassinated in a Belgrade hotel in 2000.

Arkan died before he was put on trial by the United Nations on charges of crimes against humanity. Hungarian director Laszlo Hege, who will helm the project, is quoted as saying: "I like the way Vinnie Jones acts and he accepted the role of the notorious warlord Arkan with delight."

British actor Vinnie, a former soccer star, is renowned for playing villains and hard men following roles in 'X-Men: The Last Stand', 'Snatch' and 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'.

The movie will be shot in Budapest, Hungary.