Director Steven Spielberg will bring the WWI novel "War Horse" to the big screen. [Photo: Mtime.com]

American director Steven Spielberg said Tuesday that his next project will be based on British writer Michael Morpurgo's World War I novel "War Horse."

The novel was published in 1982 and soon became one of the bestselling books in the UK. It tells the war-time story of a long friendship between a British boy and his horse.

Spielberg said he decided to make the film when he read the story two years ago. "Its heart and its message provide a story that can be felt in every country," he said.

DreamWorks Studios has bought the rights to the novel and Disney will be the distribution partner.

The film is scheduled for release in August 2011.

The Oscar-winning Spielberg has already made films about World War II, such as "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List."

Spielberg is currently working on the 3D film "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn," which is due to open in December 2011. The director's future projects include "Gershwin" and the sci-fi tale "Robopocalypse."