Keira Knightley is set to star in a rival biopic to Emma Thompson’s film on Euphemia ‘Effie’ Gray. Although Emma is currently shooting the project ‘Effie’ which she wrote starring Dakota Fanning and based on the marriage of the teenager and critic John Ruskin in Victorian London, Keira has now signed up for ‘Untouched’ which will tell the same story. ‘House Of Sand’s Andrucha Waddington will direct the movie based on a script from Aleksandra Crapanzano which will tell how Effie escaped from her loveless marriage to divorce Ruskin and eventually marry his protege, John Everett Millais. Although Effie was a striking beauty, John never consummated the marriage because he was disgusted with her body. It is unclear who will play Ruskin and Millais opposite Keira in ‘Untouched’. Greg Wise and Tom Sturridge are starring in ‘Effie’ with Richard Laxton directing the film which will also star Emma as Lady Eastlake, who assists Effie when it becomes clear she is being destroyed by her marriage.

Source: Contactmusic

Keira Knightley’s shocking new role in David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method was originally written for Julia Roberts. The British beauty plays a Russian woman named Sabina who has severe psychological issues and comes between famed psychiatrists Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. The script is based on Christopher Hampton’s 2002 play The Talking Cure. Knightley recently admitted she almost turned down the role because of its kinky spanking scene, and now it’s been revealed the part was initially penned for romantic comedy queen Roberts. Cronenberg says, “(Hampton) had written a screenplay for Julia Roberts called ‘Sabina’ and it was for Fox. I think that was 17 years ago and it didn’t happen for whatever reason, and he then asked them if he could have the permission to make a play out of it, so it was really a screenplay first and it was based on many things.”

Source: Contactmusic

Keira Knightley is to play the fairy Tinker Bell in a new Peter Pan prequel movie. The Pirates Of The Caribbean actress will voice the character in Neverland, which is to be screened in the summer. She joins a cast which already includes Anna Friel, Bob Hoskins and Charles Dance for the film, to be screened in two parts on Sky Movies Premiere HD later this year. She leads a colony of tree-dwelling spirits in the film, which imagines a world before JM Barrie’s classic tale begins. Keira will record her role shortly. Rhys Ifans plays Hook, the mentor of a gang of young pickpockets which includes Peter (Charlie Rowe), who steal a magical treasure which transports them to Neverland.

Source: The Press Association

Keira Knightley may be starring in the upcoming adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, directed by Joe Wright and written by Tom Stoppard. The film may begin shooting by the fall of 2012. Asked in an interview (via CinemaBlend) who will start in the film, Wright responded, “Not sure yet. It’s fairly obvious, but I can’t quite say. She hasn’t signed on the line yet. I’m loyal to my actors.” Wright has already worked with Knightely for two films: Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.

Source: JustJared

Keira Knightley will star alongside Robert Pattinson in “Cosmopolis”. The British actress will play the 24-year-old star’s love interest in the David Cronenberg-directed film, based the Don DeLillo novel. The pair are expected to get up close and personal with each other in the film, which shows 24 hours in the life of a billionaire financier who squanders his fortune and his new wife. An insider said: “Keira will get to do a lot of smooching with Rob. Some of the scenes are going to be pretty steamy.” Marion Cotillard was originally lined up for the film’s single female role – but now Keira, 25, is on board. In the movie’s second big casting change after Irish star Colin Farrell backed out earlier this year. Director David has nothing but praise for his new leading lady. He said: “Keira is a brilliant actress. She blew everyone away. She’s a real heavy dude. She’s as good as anyone I’ve worked with. “You don’t realise it until you start to actually work with somebody.”

Source: Contactmusic