SOME of his biggest screen roles have been as crime fighters, Shakespearean kings and, of course, as the last remaining Time Lord Doctor Who.

Now actor David Tennant is to star as a thief in a new US crime thriller.

Tennant, who wowed audiences as Detective Alec Hardy in Broadchurch – the final series is currently in production – will appear in Bad Samaritan for Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.

The film will be directed by Devlin and is set to begin shooting this year in Portland, Oregon, in the USA.

Brandon Boyce wrote the screenplay and Electric’s Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan are producing alongside Devlin.

The film centres on two young car valets who use their business as a front to burgle the houses of their unsuspecting patrons.

Life is good for these petty thieves until they target the wrong house.

Bathgate-born Tennant also starred in the US version of hit ITV drama Broadchurch. Renamed Gracepoint, the drama saw Tennant reprise his role as a detective investigating the murder of a boy in a small town.

Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn co-starred as Det Ellie Miller, played by Olivia Coleman in the ITV original.

The drama delivered disappointing ratings for Fox, with viewers dropping from 4.8 million to 4 million, and was not renewed for a second series.

But by now turning to crime, Tennant will be hoping it will pay for him.

Mr Devlin said: “I’m a huge fan of David’s work.

“I am overjoyed at the opportunity to work with him. Brandon’s script had me on the edge of my seat. Tennant’s intensity is a perfect match for this material.”

Tennant recently appeared as Dr. Zebediah Kilgrave opposite Krysten Ritter in the Netflix Marvel series “Jessica Jones.”

He will next take on the role of maverick psychiatrist RD Laing in Robert Mullan’s “Mad to Be Normal” alongside Elizabeth Moss and will begin production on Daisy Aitkens’ romantic-comedy “Fish Without Bicycles” later this year.