Saoirse Ronan has signed on to star in the title role of Mary Queen of Scots for Working Title and producers Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan. Michael Hirst (Elizabeth and its sequel) is on screenplay duties, with the producers currently seeking a director.
Mary Queen of Scots was crowned the Queen Regnant of Scotland after her father, James V of Scotland, died when she just six days old. Her first husband also became the King of France, making her the queen consort in 1559. He then died the following year.
Her reign went downhill from there, after marrying her first cousin before he was murdered. She then married the man accused of killing her former husband, which caused an uprising that resulted in her imprisonment. After 18 years confinement, she was executed for her alleged part in an assassination attempt on England’s Queen Elizabeth I, Mary’s cousin. She was certainly busy!
If a director can be found in the near future, the producers hope to start filming sometime next year. (Source: Deadline)