Hollywood star Brad Pitt's next screen outing could see him playing second fiddle to a Sussex leisure centre.

The 41-year-old actor, star of Fight Club and Mr and Mrs Smith, is on an internship with architect Frank Gehry and has taken a special interest in the £220 million redevelopment of the King Alfred site on Hove's seafront. He wants to make a television documentary about his interest in architecture.

The Argus has learned the actor is in discussion with the BBC about making the film later this year.

If given the go-ahead, the documentary would follow the progress of the designs for the Hove development, which includes a £46 million leisure centre and 750 flats.

Pitt could even bring a film crew to Brighton and Hove later this year when Mr Gehry presents his proposals to Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee. The actor has been asked to design one of the development's six penthouse suites, as well as a restaurant.

There is speculation he may be interested in buying one of the £3 million apartments himself.

The BBC refused to confirm the project but sources close to the development say the broadcaster has been involved in exploratory discussions with Pitt's production company.

He has worked with the BBC before when he presented a radio programme about Seventies singer Nick Drake for Radio 2 last year.

Josh Arghiros, chairman of Karis, the developer behind the leisure centre, said: "I'm delighted Brad is excited about the project and so should everyone be. We are happy his imagination has been captured by such a fantastic development.

"The city should be really excited that Frank is ready to deliver a planning application in August that will help Brighton and Hove become Britain's cultural capital."

Mr Gehry, 76, whose most famous designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, first met Pitt in 2001.

In an interview with The Argus in May, the architect said: "Brad's very interested in architecture and in everything we do. He appears from time to time and says he wants to play with us. My fantasy is that he will design the restaurant."

Pitt, the ex-husband of Friends star Jennifer Aniston, told Vanity Fair magazine in an interview last year: "I've got few men I respect very much and one would be Frank Gehry.

He said to me: "'If you know where it's going, it's not worth doing.' That has become like a mantra for me."