If the late Bruce McLaren's wife has her way, big-name Hollywood actor Tom Cruise will play the role of her deceased husband in a upcoming movie to be made about McLaren's life.

"I was talking about who could play the part this morning with my daughter, Amanda, and I thought Tom Cruise would be a good choice," Mrs Patty McLaren-Brickett told NZPA.

"He looks very similar to Bruce - he is dark, he is the same height and has a similar build - he is the only person I thought of at the moment - but he would be too expensive."

Plans to make a a big budget film about the life of New Zealand motor-racing icon Bruce McLaren were announced at the New Zealand A1GP earlier this weekend.

A race driver and an engineer, McLaren died on June 2, 1970 in an accident while testing at the Goodwood circuit in England at the age of 33.

He had, however, already laid the foundation for the McLaren F1 team, one of Formula One's most dominant outfits.