[AFP photo]

Actor Russell Crowe is to make his directorial debut with a film about an underground surfing community in Australia, it was reported on Thursday.

Movie industry daily Variety reported that the Oscar-winning "Gladiator" star's first film as a director would be about three brothers who form a surfer movement in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra.

The film is based on the documentary "Bra Boys" about brothers Sunny, Koby and Jai Abberton, which was released in Australia earlier this month. Crowe narrated the documentary.

The movie sees Crowe team up again with the creative team behind "A Beautiful Mind" and "Cinderella Man", producer Brian Grazer and director Ron Howard.

Later this year Crowe will appear in the Ridley Scott directed-drama "American Gangster" alongside Denzel Washington.