Vin Diesel to voice Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy

Vin Diesel will voice Groot in space adventure Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios has confirmed.

The studio posted the news on its website, just hours after Vin Diesel himself appeared to confirm the rumors by posting a photo on Facebook.

The picture showed the actoe hugging a model of the giant tree character, Groot.

Guardians of the Galaxy is due in August 2014, directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt as Star Lord.

Vin Diesel is joined by Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon and Zoe Saldana as Gamora, along with Benicio del Toro, John C Reilly and Glenn Close.

The actor, who has starred in four of the six Fast & Furious films, will reprise his role in forthcoming movie Fast & Furious 7.

Marvel’s official announcement about Vin Diesel’s role in Guardians of the Galaxy was subtitled: “The action star will lend his booming voice to Marvel’s epic Guardians of the Galaxy film!”