Matt Smith's next role is going to be very different than The Crown

It's a big step away from Prince Phillip.

The Crown's Matt Smith is reportedly going to play cult leader and murderer Charles Manson in the new movie, Charlie Says.

The movie, directed by American Psycho filmmaker Mary Harron, is scheduled to start filming in Los Angeles this spring, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Charlie Says will focus on three young women - played by Hannah Murray, Odessa Young and Marianne Rendon - that were sentenced to death in connection with the Manson Family murders.

The death penalty was lifted in California and they were later sentenced to life imprisonment.

The movie will follow one young graduate student, Karlene Faith (Merritt Wever), who is sent to teach them and help them face the reality of their horrifying crimes.

Suki Waterhouse, Carla Gugino, and Kayli Carter have all also been cast in the film.

Guinevere Turner, Harron's American Psycho writing partner, will pen the screenplay, based on Ed Sanders' The Family and Faith's book, The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten.

Harron told the publication:

"Guinevere Turner's script brings a fresh and unique perspective to the infamous story of the Manson murders and we have now found the perfect cast to bring it to life."