Matthew McConaughey is reportedly in line to play the villain of The Stand.

The True Detective actor has been tipped to take on the role of Randall Flagg in the Stephen King adaptation, according to The Guardian.

The Warner Bros project was first rumoured to be pursuing McConaughey for the project in the summer.

Josh Boone is directing the movie, which he recently revealed may be a four-film project.

King's apocalyptic epic The Stand is set in a world devastated by an experimental biological weapon.

The survivors fall into two camps, one under the saintly Mother Abigail, the other based in Las Vegas under recurring King villain Flagg.