Magic Mike star Joe Manganiello has won Morrissey’s blessing to make a film about The Smiths

MAGIC Mike star Joe Manganiello has won the approval of taciturn Smiths frontman Morrissey to make a film about the legendary British rock band.

MAGIC Mike star Joe Manganiello has won the approval of taciturn Smiths frontman Morrissey to make a film about the legendary British rock band.

Shoplifters Of The World will not be a biopic but based on an urban myth about a crazed fan who held staff at a Denver radio station hostage in the 1980s, demanding they play Smiths songs all day.

The story has been debunked over the years but would make a good film plot. As it already did in the 1994 film Airheads, which starred Brendan Fraser, Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi.

Morrissey has even given permission for the band’s music to be used in the film.

“Morrissey agreed to give us the catalogue for a nice, affordable fee,” Manganiello said.

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 17: Joe Manganiello attends Netflix presents the world premiere of "Pee-wee's Big Holiday" at SXSW March 17, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alli Harvey/Getty Images for Netflix)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 02: Singer Morrissey performs at Hollywood High School on March 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Spiderman star, who had to drop out of a recent television drama for health reasons, proved he takes The Smiths music as seriously as its frontman when posting a response to the Showbiz 411 report about the film.

He cheekily took issue with their description of the seminal British band as “punk”.

“Rock or British Indie. You could even go new wave but definitely not punk. You’ve got some Spotify homework today,” he tweeted.

@showbiz411 @victore1963 Rock or British Indie. You could even go new wave but definitely not punk. You've got some Spotify homework today

— Joe Manganiello (@JoeManganiello) May 4, 2016

Shoplifters of the World is being written and directed by Stephen Kijak, who has made documentaries about the Rolling Stones, and the Backstreet Boys while Manganiello’s production company 359 Inc. will produce the movie.

He will also star as the DJ.