Gael Garcia Bernal is to play Zorro in a new re-imagining of the franchise.

The Motorcycle Diaries actor will play the Spanish swordsman as a masked vigilante on the hunt for revenge in Zorro Reborn, which is described as having Western themes and a "futuristic reboot" of the story. Unlike previous movies, it will not be set in California or Mexico, but a ruined "world of tomorrow."

Studio 20th Century Fox are still seeking a director for the project, which has been written by Glenn Gers, Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy.

The character of Zorro was last seen in The Legend of Zorro in 2005 - the second time Antonio Banderas portrayed the secret swashbuckler. Sony, who released The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, are currently working on their own film about the character. They are developing an origin story based on Isabel Allende's 2005 novel Zorro.