Benshaw & Campion Set for ‘Bright Stars’

Ben Whishaw, whose role as Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in Tom Tykwer’s Perfume: The Story of a Murderer brought him to the attention of film audiences worldwide, is said to be in final talks with Pathe International to lead in Jane Campion's upcoming project Bright Star. Campion is set to helm the project, which she also scripted. The Australian filmmaker has led a prestigious career, including the distinction of winning a Palme d'Or at Cannes for her multi-award winning The Piano. The film will be the fourth in 2 years following a hiatus during which she began her family.

Whishaw is in line to play 19^th century poet John Keats, whose 3 year romance with Fanny Brawne was suddenly cut short by his death at the age of 25.  Keats began his career as a surgeon’s assistant, but gave up medicine for literary pursuits. His career barely outlasted his romance, but established him as one of the greatest poets in modern British literature.

Brawne will be played by Abbie Cornish who just made the move from television to film in 2004 with Paul Currie’s One Perfect Day. Whishaw has over a dozen films to his credit as well, including the upcoming I’m Not There in which he plays one of seven portrayals of Bob Dylan. Whishaw is also slated to begin filming Brideshead Revisited with Hayley Atwell and Matthew Goode. The film is set to begin production this fall.