London, September 23 - Hollywood comeback kid Mickey Rourke has signed up to star in 'The Ice Man', a film based on the life of real-life hitman Richard 'Iceman' Kuklinski.

'The Wrestler' actor believes it will be his defining role, like boxing movie 'Raging Bull' was for Robert De Niro, who won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of middleweight world champion Jake Lamotta in the Martin Scorsese film, reports list.co.uk.

'He's really looking forward to being the 'Ice Man' and I think he'll do a great job. He's talking about it being his 'Raging Bull',' said Phil Carlo who wrote the 2006 biography 'The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer'.

Movie producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura had held the rights to Carlo's bestseller about the convicted murderer. However, when the agreement expired in August, Carlo refused to extend the deal because di Bonaventura wanted 'Public Enemies' star Channing Tatum to play the title character.

'I think Mickey Rourke would be really good.