Marvel Studios has confirmed action star Vin Diesel will voice the character of Groot in its space adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy, according to BBC News.

It posted the news on the Marvel website, just hours after Diesel himself appeared to confirm the rumours by posting a photo on Facebook.

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

The live-action adventure is due in August 2014, directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt as Star Lord.

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

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

He topped the U.S. box office in September this year as the star of Riddick, his third outing as the convict turned anti-hero of the same name.

Marvel's official announcement about his 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!"