Metallica to start shooting 3D film this summer

Metallica have revealed that they will begin shooting their 3D film this summer.

In a statement posted on their official website, the metal legends said they had agreed to work with Hungarian director Nimrod Antal on the project, which they expect to release next summer.

Speaking about working with Antal, whose work includes the 2004 Hungarian language flick Kontroll and the 2010 blockbuster Predators with actor Adrian Brody, the band's drummer Lars Ulrich said: "I've been a fan of Nimrod's since his first Hungarian film, Kontroll, showed up at Cannes in 2004 and blew everyone away. I've watched with excitement his career in Hollywood blossom over the last few years."

He went on to add: "Within five minutes of meeting him I was addicted to his enthusiasm, his take on the creative process and his 'thinking outside the box' personality. Let's get on with it!"

Last weekend (March 4), Ulrich hinted that the band could release their next LP without a record label, following the expiration of their deal with Warner, and even said the band could give the album "away in cereal boxes". He said: "We're free and clear of our record contract. The world's our oyster. We can basically do whatever we want. And we're going so start figuring that out."

Metallica will play a headline slot at this summer's Download Festival as well as a series of other large European shows, performing their 1991 self-titled record, commonly known as 'The Black Album', in its entirety.

In October last year they teamed up with Lou Reed to release the album 'Lulu', which is based around German dramatist Frank Wedekind's 1913 play about the life of an abused dancer.