Stephen Moyer joins Devil's Knot

Stephen Moyer has bagged a leading role in upcoming drama Devil's Knot.

The 42-year-old actor - whose wife and True Blood co-star Anna Paquin is currently expecting twins - joins Oscar-winners Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth in the film, Deadline reports.

Essex-born Stephen, who plays vampire Bill Compton in the hit US TV show, will play prosecutor John Fogelman in the movie about the West Memphis 3 murder controversy.

The film is based on Mara Leveritt's 2003 book and tells the story of teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, who were tried in 1993 for the killing of three eight-year-old boys. They were sent to prison despite a lack of evidence and after years of appeals were finally released last year with ten-year suspended sentences.

Colin is starring as a private investigator who became the trio's first champion when they were headed to trial, and offered them his services for free.

Reese will play the mother of one of the murder victims, who initially believes the trio killed her son, but is eventually persuaded that the suspects are innocent.

Devil's Knot is being directed by Atom Egoyan.