Photo by ANTONIO CALANNI, Associated Press Files
Naomi Watts is set to play Princess Diana
Producers say Naomi Watts will play Princess Diana in a film about the last years of the royal's life.
Britain's Ecosse Films says "Caught in Flight" will focus on the two years before Diana's death in a Paris car crash in August 1997.
It is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, best known for his film "Downfall," about Hitler's last days. The screenplay is by Stephen Jeffreys, who penned "The Libertine."
Filmmakers said Thursday the biopic "charts how finding true personal happiness for the first time" allowed Diana to find her role as "a major international campaigner and humanitarian."
The Australia-raised Watts, who received an Academy Award nomination for the Memphis-filmed "21 Grams," said she was honored to get the role.
Filming will begin later this year.
Kruger stars as Marie Antoinette
Speaking of movies about royals, a costume drama set during the French revolution and starring Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette kicked off the annual Berlin film festival Thursday -- the first of the year's major European film festivals.
"Farewell My Queen," from French director Benoit Jacquot, was the first of 18 films competing for the top Golden Bear award at the festival, which runs until Feb. 19.
"It was definitely one of the most challenging parts I've had, and then it's (in) 18th-century French, which doesn't help either," Kruger said.
'Jersey' girls set for sequel
New Jersey's second-largest city is rolling out the welcome mat for the women of the "Jersey Shore."
Jersey City has issued producers a permit to film a spinoff of the reality series featuring Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jenni "JWoww" Farley. Filming is expected to begin later this month in the city's Grove Street Path neighborhood.
Briefly
Bruce Springsteen announced Thursday that two saxophonists, including Clarence Clemons' nephew, will join his upcoming world tour with the E Street Band. Clemons, a longtime Springsteen sideman, died last summer. Longtime collaborator Eddie Manion will "share the saxophone role" with Jake Clemons, Springsteen said. The tour starts March 18 in Atlanta. ... "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert and Hunter Hayes are the Academy of Country Music Awards' best new artist nominees. Fan voting in the category opens March 19 at voteacm.com and will continue until 7 p.m. CDT April 1, just before the start of the live awards show. ... Hip-hop music mogul Russell Simmons wrote in a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo that cow's milk should no longer be the state's official beverage. Simmons is a vegan who has taken on several animal rights causes with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
-- From Our Press Services
Today's birthdays
Actor Robert Wagner, 82; guitarist Don Wilson of The Ventures, 79; singer Roberta Flack, 75; actress Kathleen Beller ("Dynasty"), 56; actress Laura Dern, 45; actress Elizabeth Banks ("Scrubs"), 38; actress Emma Roberts ("Unfabulous," "Nancy Drew"), 21; actress Makenzie Vega ("The Good Wife"), 18.
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