Leonardo DiCaprio to play controversial religious leader Jim Jones

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio is all set to play religious cult leader Jim Jones in MGM's upcoming feature film.

Penned by "Venom's" writer Scott Rosenberg, the movie will also have DiCaprio on board as producer.

Jim Jones was the leader of the Peoples Temple religious group. He was behind the November 1978 mass suicide at his Jonestown settlement that took more than 900 lives, including 304 children.

Jones and his inner circle orchestrated the massacre at the jungle commune in Guyana, with the followers directed to drink cyanide-adulterated punch.

Rosenberg will also serve as executive producer on the project.

DiCaprio has previously produced Alejandro Inarritu's "The Revenant," Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street", "The Aviator" and "Shutter Island", under his banner Appian Way Productions.