Terrence Howard, who is producing an updated film version of Shakespeare's Macbeth, told a group of reporters that he takes on the title role in the classic play of ambition and treachery, the leading role he's been waiting for. After the buzz from his Oscar nomination for Hustle & Flow, Howard has only played one lead, in the film Pride.

"I had to wait for a minute to trust where I was going," Howard (Iron Man) said in a group interview on Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he was promoting the action drama Fighting. "I'm about to do Macbeth, which we are producing. We're going to do that this summer."

After playing supporting roles in Iron Man, August Rush and The Brave One, Howard felt that the Shakespeare play fit his criteria for a leading vehicle. "I'm playing Hamlet," he joked, confirming that he would play the title role of Macbeth.

Howard will also work behind the scenes on the film. "My production company is producing that," he said. "We'll shoot it in Puerto Rico starting in June."

Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish warrior whose interpretation of three witches' prophecies leads him to murder the king and usurp the throne. This Macbeth adaptation will be set in the modern day, with an exotic island setting.

"Yes, it's updated present time, Caribbean," Howard said. "It'll be a nice thing to see Shakespeare under a Caribbean sun."