LOS ANGELES - KEANU Reeves is to star in a period film about a band of samurai swordsmen who avenge the death of their master in 18th century Japan, it was reported on Tuesday.

Reeves, the star of the upcoming science fiction thriller The Day the Earth Stood Still and the Matrix films, will play one of the vengeful samurai in the movie titled 47 Ronin, Daily Variety reported.

The film, which is being produced by Universal Pictures, is based on the true story of a group of samurai who plotted revenge after their master was forced to commit suicide for assaulting a court official.

Variety said the film would mix fantasy elements with gritty battle scenes similar to those in period epics such as Gladiator. Filming is set to begin in 2009. -- AFP