Spielberg chooses A-level student to play the boy detective Tintin

( PA)

An A-level student is set for Hollywood stardom after landing the role of Tintin in a movie adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg.

Thomas Sangster, 17, has already had roles in the Richard Curtis film Love Actually, as Liam Neeson's son, and with Emma Thompson in Nanny McPhee.

He was handpicked by Spielberg to bring to the big screen Hergé's famous comic books in a multimillion-dollar film trilogy.

Filming is expected to begin in September and the first movie released in 2010.

Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings films, has been cast as Tintin's friend Captain Haddock. Thomas said he had not read Tintin until a few days ago. "Tintin is like a super boy scout. When I was really young I watched some episodes of the cartoon and loved it," he said.

The teenager from south London is studying for A-levels in art and media studies and works part-time at a garage.