HELSINKI (AP) — Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski's company says he will direct a Hollywood biopic of J.R.R. Tolkien, the British author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."

Helsinki Filmi CEO Annika Sucksdorff confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the 40-year-old Karukoski would direct the film about the formative years of Tolkien's life.

Karukoski is best known for "Tom of Finland," a recent film about the 20th century gay artist who created homoerotic pictures under that pseudonym.

The award-winning Karukoski, one of Finland's best known film makers, has directed eight feature films, many of them best-selling productions, including "The Home of Dark Butterflies."

Online magazine Deadline Hollywood reported Monday that the biopic will be scripted by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford. No other details were available.