The Champions ran the global crime-fighting agency Nemesis

Director Guillermo del Toro has signed up to write and direct the film, which is in the early stages of development.

The series, which ran for 30 episodes in 1968-69, revolved around the adventures of three secret government agents with superhuman abilities.

Originally screened on ITV, the show has recently been aired again on digital channel ITV4.

Super powers

The Champions starred Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo and William Gaunt as the agents whose lives were saved by an advanced civilisation when their plane crashed in the Himalayas.

The civilization also bestowed them with superhuman abilities, including the ability to communicate over long distances by mental telepathy and the ability to foresee events.

The TV series was produced by ITC, the company behind shows like The Saint, The Prisoner and Thunderbirds.

Del Toro, who directed Pan's Labyrinth and was nominated for several Oscars last year, is currently working on the production of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.