Naomi Watts to Play Princess Diana

In November we reported Jessica Chastain would play the late Princess Diana in the upcoming picture Caught In Flight.

Today, Ecosse Films has announced Naomi Watts will in fact portray Diana with production scheduled for spring of this year.

Watts said in a statement, “It is such an honor to be able to play this iconic role—Princess Diana was loved across the world and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen.”

Director Oliver Hirschbiegel has created a story that focuses on Diana’s long-time love affair with Dr. Hasnat Kahn. The film will also focus on Diana’s humanitarian and international work.

Watts’ latest role was alongside Leonard DiCaprio in the Golden Globe-nominated picture J. Edgar as DiCaprio’s relentless secretary.

Meanwhile, Jessica Chastain is keeping busy. The Oscar-nominated actress has signed on to star in an untitled Terrence Malick project beside Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Javier Bardem and Ben Affleck.

She is also scheduled for a John Hillcoat drama set during the Great Depression, a Kathryn Bigelow untitled international thriller about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and two films (Tar and Mama) with 2012 release dates. In Tar she plays poet C.K. William’s wife, and in the horror picture Mama an adoptive mother. And let’s not forget she’ll also lead The Heiress on Broadway this year.

Check out Naomi Watts discussing J. Edgar below.