The story of Robert the Bruce is to be told on the popular streaming platform Netflix.

The acclaimed Scottish film director David Mackenzie is to make Outlaw King about Robert the Bruce, and it will star Chris Pine in the titular role.

Mackenzie has written the screenplay for the film, which is to shoot on location in Scotland this August.

The drama is to be produced by Gillian Berrie of Sigma Films, based in Glasgow.

Robert I, known as Robert the Bruce, was the king of the Scots who secured Scotland's independence from England.

He lived from 1274 to 1329 and was depicted in the film Braveheart.

Variety, the Hollywood journal, said that in this version of the tale of Robert the Bruce, "Bruce will take centre stage and include not only his fight against the British, but also the Catholic Church over the idea of a free country."

Mackenzie recently made the movie Hell or High Water, which received a nomination for best film at the Oscars this year.

The movie could also star Ben Foster, who acted alongside Pine in Hell or High Water.

At the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314, Robert the Bruce defeated a much larger English army under Edward II, confirming the re-establishment of an independent Scottish monarchy.

Four years later, Robert received papal recognition as king of an independent Scotland.

A Creative Scotland spokeswoman, said: “We are aware that Sigma Films have been developing a range of exciting feature film and TV projects including a period drama about Robert the Bruce, supported by slate funding from Creative Scotland through our Screen Funding programme.”