Brad Pitt may star in a biopic of the controversial former commander of international forces in Afghanistan, US general Stanley McChrystal, reports Deadline.

Based on Michael Hastings' biography of McChrystal, The Operators will be written and directed by David Michôd, the Australian film-maker behind the acclaimed 2010 crime drama Animal Kingdom. The book, described as "the wild and terrifying inside story of America's war in Afghanistan", details the military commander's rise to power. Amazon says it is a "shocking behind-the-scenes portrait of our military commanders, their high-stake manoeuvres, and the political firestorm that shook the United States".

McChrystal resigned from his post as the commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan in June 2010 after Rolling Stone published an article, also by Hastings, in which he and aides close to him were openly critical of US president Barack Obama and his team. He was replaced by David Petraeus.

The Operators has been optioned by Pitt's production company, Plan B, and partners New Regency and RatPac Entertainment. The actor will produce and is expected to star in the film.

Plan B and New Regency previously worked together on the Oscar-winning race drama 12 Years a Slave, in which Pitt had a small role as an abolitionist.