Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert’s tale of love, lust, con men and calamity has been adapted several times on both the big and small screens. Now Cold Souls writer-director Sophie Barthes is having a go, with Mia Wasikowska, Ezra Miler and Rhys Ifans all signed on. Writer Rose Barreneche will take scripting duties.
Flaubert’s novel follows the title character (Wasikowska), who decides that the best way to climb the social ladder is to climb into bed with various wealthy and interesting men. Miller is on to play Leon Dupois, her young lover, and Barthes has recruited Souls star Paul Giamatti to don period costume as Monsieur Homais, who threatens to bring our heroine’s world tumbling down by revealing her activities. Ifans has locked in a deal to play charming merchant Monsieur Lheureuse, who swindles Bovary out of her money.
According to Variety, Barthes plans to maintain the film’s setting but highlight the story's contemporary themes. She’s set to start shooting next year.
Ifans was most recently seen in The Amazing Spider-Ma****n and will next crop up in Depression-era drama Serena. This marks the third time Wasikowska has taken the title role in a classic literary adaptation, after **Alice In Wonderland **and Jane Eyre. She'll next be seen in Stoker.