According to the gumshoe, Michael had agreed to play the part of Frank for a fee of $19 billion, but has stalled since being told his leading lady was to be Madonna.

"Michael has already been paid an advance of $5 million by the producers," Frank says. "He keeps that even if he knocks back the lead role in the movie (which will be called Frank Monte And The Skull Of Rockefeller).

"I've spoken to the producers and it now looks like Sylvester Stallone might get the part."

Michael is reported to be worried the raunchy Madonna would upstage him: "After all, in the movie Dick Tracy, Madonna came to the fore more than Warren Beatty. That's what Michael is worried about, or so I'm told.

"It has put our schedule back a little, but I can assure you the movie will be made with or without Michael Douglas."

Frank wrote his memoirs two years ago and took them to the U.S., where he eventually convinced the moguls they would make a great adventure movie.

One chapter from his manuscript is the story of Michael Rockefeller, heir to the Rockefeller billions, who went missing in the jungles of Irian Jaya in 1961. In 1979 the Rockefeller family hired Frank to lead an expedition and find out what happened to Michael.

After 12 months Frank found Michael's skull in the possession of natives and returned it to the family, who had its authenticity verified. Michael was apparently beheaded by natives for trying to steal sacred artefacts.

"They (the Hollywood producers) loved the story, so now it's all happening," Frank says.

Shooting of the film will start soon in Colombia or Papua New Guinea, with other location filming in Amsterdam, New York and Sydney.

Frank says Madonna came into consideration after he met the sexy songstress in a Miami nightclub: "When she learned about my movie, she became excited and kept repeating, 'You know, I'm an actress'." That set Frank thinking, and he thinks Madonna would be ideal for the part.

But one female role Frank has made up his mind about is the cameo part of his secretary.

That, Frank insists, will be played by his 22-year-old fiancee Justine Sadokiorski (pictured with Frank).

"Justine is not only beautiful, she is extremely talented... she's demonstrated that in everything she has ever taken on." Story: Norm Lipson
Picture: Andrew Jacob