FILMING is underway in a new 3D adaptation of Tarzan, with St Helens born Harry Potter director David Yates at the helm.

Yates, who directed the last four films in the highly popular Potter franchise, takes charge of the big budget adaptation of the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The announcement was made by Warner Bros with Alexander Skarsgard star of the hit TV series ‘True Blood’ in the lead role.

The film will also star Samuel L Jackson, Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained).

The story sees Tarzan living a life away from the African jungle with his wife Jane. However he is invited back to the Congo by the UK parliament and is drawn into a world of greed and corruption.

Tarzan is due for release in summer 2016.