Kanye West to show off his acting skills in film about Kobe Bryant

Rapper Kanye West has reportedly signed on to star alongside Bruce Willis in a new film about basketball superstar Kobe Bryant.

The Stronger hitmaker will make his film debut in The Black Mamba, a project directed by Sin City's Robert Rodriguez and produced by bosses at sports giant Nike, reports Contactmusic website.

The movie will also feature Los Angeles Lakers icon Bryant and Machete actor Danny Trejo.

Plot details have yet to be released. But sources say West will play the antagonist in the movie.

The Black Mamba is a part of a promotional campaign for Bryant's new line of sneakers, the Nike Air Kobe Zoom VIs - and thus won't be heading to the big screen.

The film premieres online on 19 February.