Angelina Jolie is to star as Marilyn Monroe in a new film about the Hollywood bombshell, it has been revealed.
The 35-year-old actress is set to play Monroe in an adaptation of Andrew O'Hagan's The Life And Opinions Of Maf The Dog, And Of His Friend Marilyn Monroe, the author revealed at the Edinburgh Book Festival yesterday.
And George Clooney has been lined up to play Monroe's close friend Frank Sinatra, O'Hagan confirmed, adding that production on the film would begin soon.
Blonde bombshell: Angelina Jolie, seen left in film Life Or Something Like It (2002) is set to play Marilyn Monroe in a new film about the last two years of her life
While Scarlett Johansson and Christina Hendricks had previously been in line for the role, it was eventually decided Jolie would be the best choice to play Monroe in the new film.
O'Hagan's novel tells the story of Monroe's final two years before her death in 1962 through the eyes of her pet Maltese terrier Maf - a gift from My Way singer Sinatra in 1960.
As well as meeting Monroe's friends including former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Maf also accompanied the star to acting classes and restaurants.
Beloved pet: Monroe pictured with Maltese terrier Maf in 1961
When she received the dog from Sinatra, Monroe decided to call it Mafia - a joke reference to Sinatra, before shortening the name to Maf, or Maf Honey.
In the book, written entirely from Maf's perspective, the canine comments: 'She was an artist to her fingertips... a strange and unhappy creature, but at the same she had more comedy to her than anybody I would ever know. More comedy and more art.'
When Monroe died in August 1962 aged 36, Maf was inherited by Sinatra's secretary Gloria Lovell.
It has not yet been revealed who will be voicing Maf in the movie.
Ol' Blue Eyes: George Clooney will play Frank Sinatra in the adaptation of Andrew O'Hagan's The Life And Opinions Of Maf The Dog, And Of His Friend Marilyn Monroe
Jolie is currently in London promoting new movie Salt, in which she stars as CIA agent Evelyn Salt, and will appear at the premiere in Leicester Square tonight.
Speaking about the possibility of starring in a sequel of the film, which has already proved a box office hit in America, Jolie said: 'I'd love to do a sequel. You never know if you're going to get the chance, if audiences are going to love it.
'But particularly with this character, I think there is so much yet to explore in her life with her - with her family, with coming to terms with who she is in the end, because of the way it's set up, she could be anybody.
'As an actress, and somebody who loves to travel, it would be nice to be able to explore the world with her.'
We don't cover much Elisabetta Canalis. Granted, she is model hot. And, a hot model. And she has one of those amazing Mediterranean bodies and looks that can drive a pasty-white person like myself into all sorts of Northern Hemispheric passion frenzies.
