Cronje led South Africa's Test side back to prominence

Cronje received a life ban from cricket for involvement in match-fixing and died in a plane crash two years ago.

Frans Cronje's company is co-producing the movie which will start filming in 2005, and a biography authorised by the family is also being written.

"I often mentioned to Hansie the need to write a biography and produce a movie on his life," said Frans Cronje.

"He always replied that you cannot tell a story until it is finished.

"As a family, we realise that the story is now ready to be told."

Cronje, who took over as captain in 1994, led South Africa back to prominence after their 20 years of isolation.

He was banned from professional cricket in 2000 after admitting accepting money from bookmakers for supplying information on matches.

Cronje died on 1 June 2002 when the aircraft crashed into a hill 260 miles from Cape Town.