Steve Coogan and John C Reilly to star as Laurel and Hardy in new film

The BBC biopic will be written and produced by the team behind Philomena

(Getty)

Silent film legends Laurel & Hardy are to be incarnated by actors Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly in a new BBC Films production.

The biopic, titled Stan & Ollie, was confirmed back in 2004. Deadline reports that it will focus on the double act's legendary 1953 tour which occurred late on in their respective careers during which the two became aware their swansong may be nearing.

It's set to be directed by Jon S. Baird, the filmmaker behind the 2013 adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel Filth starring James McAvoy.

Baird said: "Like so many others I grew up watching Laurel & Hardy and I'm therefore honoured to help bring this incredible true story of love, laughter and friendship to the big screen."

On screenplay-writing duties is the Oscar-winning Jeff Pope, who won the Adapted Screenplay award for Philomena in 2014 - a film which also starred Coogan.

Harvey Weinstein will serve as executive producer alongside Faye Ward, who recently saw success with Suffragette.

In a statement describing Coogan and C. Reilly's involvement as "dream casting", Ward commented: "I know this will be a film to treasure for fans both old and new."