Cranston, 57, who plays crystal meth-maker Walter White in Breaking Bad, has signed up to play the title role in the film Trumbo, Deadline reports.

The role sees the actor continue to play a rebellious criminal. Dalton Trumbo, who was one of the most successful Hollywood writers in the 1940s, served 11 months in prison for failing to testify about his communist activities.

A member of the Communist party, he refused to answer questions from the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and became part of the Hollywood Ten, a group of writers blacklisted by film studios.

Trumbo worked on several films in secret or under pseudonyms, including Spartacus, and was awarded a posthumous Oscar in 1993 for writing the Audrey Hepburn classic Roman Holiday.

Aside from TV classics Breaking Bad and Malcolm in the Middle, Cranston has previously appeared in films such as Little Miss Sunshine and Argo.

He is also due to star in a remake of Godzilla to be released next year.

Cranston has won three Emmys for his performance in Breaking Bad, and may now be looking for his first Oscar nod following his acclaimed performance in the TV series.

Aaron Paul (left) and Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad