State of Play starred John Simm as a dogged reporter

The drama, which won Nighy a Bafta for best actor earlier this year, will be made with US actors in the lead roles.

State of Play is about a team of journalists looking into the mysterious death of a political researcher.

"It's a blistering political thriller and we want to make an equally blistering movie," said US producer Andrew Hauptman.

The film rights were sold to Universal Pictures by writer Paul Abbott, who will also be the executive producer on the film.

Abbott's previous TV successes include Shameless and Clocking Off.

The State of Play mini-series also won two Bafta craft awards for editing and sound in May.