Joe Wright to direct Keira in Anna Karenina

Keira Knightley will be directed by Joe Wright in the forthcoming adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina'.

Joe Wright is to direct Keira Knightley in 'Anna Karenina'.

The filmmaker - who worked with the British actress in 'Atonement' - has been confirmed as being at the helm of the project, an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel.

Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster are producing the project, which also stars Jude Law as the lead character's husband Aleksei Karenin.

'Kick-Ass' star Aaron Johnson has also been cast as Count Vronsky, with Olivia Williams, Ruth Wilson and Kelly Macdonald also taking part.

The original novel is thought to be inspired by Maria Hartung, the eldest daughter of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, and tells the tale of a woman who has an affair with a handsome nobleman in early 19th century Russia.

It is not the first time 'Anna Karenina' has been made into a film - in 1997 a version starring Sophie Marceau, Sean Bean and James Fox and directed by Bernard Rose was released to mediocre reviews.