"Lord of the Rings" actor Ian Holm, 73, (Bilbo Baggins) will star in a four hour mini-series CBS biopic of the late Pope John Paul II. The documentary will cover the life of John Paul II since he was a student in Poland up until his tragic death in April earlier this year.

Variety magazine reported that historians at Vatican already read the script and granted the special access to St Peter's Square and its surroundings to the filmmakers.

Since his uncredited first appearance in the industry in 1958 (Girls at Sea), Ian Holm starred in more than 100 movies, series and shows on TV and the big screen.

The most notable appearances were in Chariots of Fire (1981), Brazil (1985), Frankenstein (1994), The Madness of King George (1994), The Fifth Element (1997), eXistenZ (1999), Lord of the Rings(2001,2003), The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and The Aviator (2005).