Renee Zellweger (Shark Tale) has signed on to portray Beatrix Potter in a biopic about the beloved children’s book author, according to Daily Variety. Ewan McGregor (Valiant, Robots) is reportedly in talks to play Potter’s publisher and love interest in the live-action film that will contain animated elements.
Titled Miss Potter, the film is being produced by David Kirschner Prods. and Phoenix Pictures, with Babe helmer Chris Noonan attached to direct from a screenplay by Broadway scribe Richard Maltby Jr. (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Fosse). Financing will be provided by Grosvenor Park and international sales and distribution will be handled by Summit Ent.
Potter is best known for the books The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher which were animated in the late ’80s with Dennis Hopper and Meryl Streep providing narration. The upcoming film will focus on the author’s life and her struggle for independence in Victorian England.
Zellweger, who is again teaming with DreamWorks Animation to voice a role in the Jerry Seinfeld animated comedy, Bee Movie, will be an exec producer on Potter. Phoenix’s Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer and David Thwaites will server as producers, along with David Kirschner and Corey Sienega of Kirschner Prods., which is working with Brian Grazer’s Imagine Ent. to bring kid lit favorite Curious George to the big screen in Universal’s upcoming 2D-animated feature.
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