Soccer superstar David Beckham has been targeted for a villainous new movie role in The Secret Service.

Director Matthew Vaughn and producers of the film are hoping to persuade the recently retired player to make his proper character acting debut in the film alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth and Michael Caine.

A source tells The Sun newspaper, "Becks was asked by Colin Firth if he'd like to be in the movie but he is yet to fully commit. He loves movies and fancies appearing on the big screen - but just as a one-off, not a full-time career."

The movie is based on Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar's graphic novel of the same name.