Michael Sheen's film career is to reach new heights, as he prepares to portray British climber George Mallory on the big screen.

The Masters Of Sex star has signed on for the leading role in the upcoming biopic In High Places, which will tell the story of the mountaineer, who disappeared during an expedition to Mount Everest in 1924.

Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald has been cast to play Mallory's wife Ruth, while Andrew Scott, best known for playing villain Moriarty in BBC drama series Sherlock and will star in new James Bond film Spectre, will take on the role of Mallory's friend and fellow climber Noel Odell, reported Screen Daily.

Mallory, who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s, and his climbing partner Andrew "Sandy" Irvine disappeared during the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition.

They were last seen when they were about 800 feet from the summit. Mallory's body was discovered in 1999.

James McEachen, who is writing and directing In High Places, aims to start shooting in September in South Tyrol, India, London and Cologne.

He said: "I have been fascinated by George Mallory for as long as I can remember. That led directly to my own Himalayan climbs in the 90s, including leading an expedition to 27,766 foot Makalu in 1992.

"It was this direct experience that gave me a deep-seated respect for the bold imagination and war-hardened bravery that Mallory and his companions displayed in their quest for the summit of Everest - long before the age of Gore-Tex and titanium."

He added that the biopic will be "an epic story about the uncompromising nature of character and the sometimes overwhelming power of dreams."

In High Places is not the first film planned about Mallory.

Tom Hardy had been attached to star in a movie for Sony, titled Everest and later renamed The Summit, which Edge Of Tomorrow filmmaker Doug Liman was to direct, although news on that production has gone quiet.