Image copyright AP Image caption The artist's autobiography was released last October

The early life of former Smiths frontman Morrissey is being turned into a film by the team behind Oscar-nominated short The Voorman Problem.

The biopic, provisionally entitled Steven, will focus on the singer's life "pre-Smiths", growing up in Manchester.

"It's as much a film for non-Morrissey fans as it is for die-hard devotees," said director Mark Gill

"But I can't deny that this is a love letter to Steven Patrick Morrissey and the dark satanic mills of Manchester."

Gill, whose dark comedy The Voorman Problem starred Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander, said his project would be "more of a portrait than a conventional biopic".

The director will co-write the script with William Thacker. Shooting is scheduled to begin at the end of the year.

It is not known whether Morrissey has given his blessing to the project.

The singer wrote extensively about his childhood in his recent memoirs, which were published last year.

He also used used his autobiography to criticise the UK legal system and the music business.

The 54-year-old is due to perform alongside Sir Tom Jones and Missouri singer Kristeen Young this Saturday in Los Angeles.

It follows the cancellation of 40 US dates during his tour last year, which was curtailed due to illness.

Sir Cliff Richard will join him at a concert in New York on 21 June.