Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to run for US president in 2016.

The 66-year-old actor - who was born in Austria - is battling to change the law in America to allow foreign-born candidates to stand for the top political role, which will allow him to take part in the elections in three years time and possibly be voted in as the leader of the country.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: ''Schwarzenegger has been talking openly about working on getting the constitutional rules changed so he can run for president in 2016. He is ready to file legal paperwork to challenge the rules.''

The Constitution prevents foreign-born citizens from being the country's leader, and any amendments must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House and the Senate, but 'The Expendables 2' star became a US citizen in 1983 and could go forward with a legal challenge.

Schwarzenegger has always had political aspirations and became the Governor of California in 2003 after winning the election. He held the position for two terms before returning to his film career in 2011.

Speaking previously, he said: ''That was always the plan: I'd step out of the movie business for a period of time, and into the governorship. And then, when I'm finished with the governorship, go back to the movie business. I am very happy being busy with movies.''