FORMER One Direction star Harry Styles has been tipped to play a gay policeman in the film adaptation of a novel set in Brighton.

The singer is reportedly in talks to take the lead role in My Policeman, which is set on the Sussex coast in the 1950s.

Harry, who made his film debut in 2017’s critically lauded Dunkirk, could be cast alongside Lily James, best known for Baby Driver and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. It is rumoured he would play Tom Burgess in the story, based on the acclaimed 2012 novel by Bethan Roberts.

The Argus: harry styles hot.jpg

Tom is gay but, due to the conservative attitudes of the era, he marries schoolteacher Marion (Lily James).

But then Tom embarks on an affair with a man called Patrick after meeting him at Brighton Museum.

Marion becomes jealous when she discovers their passionate relationship and decides to take drastic action during a time when homosexuality was illegal.

It is believed Amazon Studios has won the bid to produce the film with Michael Grandage in the director’s chair and is keen for the singer, 26, and actress, 31, to star.

The film will be adapted by Oscar-nominee Ron Nyswaner, and Amazon will be working with Berlanti Schechter Productions.

Production is expected to begin next year.

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Heart-throb Harry, who is known for his flamboyant fashion sense, found fame with boy band One Direction, which was formed during The X Factor when the judges put him together with Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zane Malik and Niall Horan.

He later turned to acting and was a big hit in Dunkirk.

It has also just been revealed he is to appear in the film Don’t Worry Darling with Florence Pugh.

The news comes after filiming of the new Peter James drama with John Simm started in Brighton last week.