Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts are in final talks to appear together in 'Ophelia'.

Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley

Ridley and Watts are close to signing a deal to play the titular character and Gertrude, in the movie adapted from the award-winning 2006 novel of the same name by Lisa Klein.

Lisa's book is taken from the 16th century English poet and playwright Shakespeare's play, in which Ophelia is one of only two female characters along with Gertrude.

She falls in love with Prince Hamlet but is gradually driven mad by his erratic behaviour towards her and everyone around him and unbeknownst to her, he kills her father Polonius. Overcome by grief, Ophelia later is found drowned.

It is not entirely clear in the play if she kills herself or simply was the victim of a tragic accident.

Lisa's book "takes a different road" than the original play, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and features "a secret wedding, characters who survive, and a semi-happy ending."

Daisy, 24, is tipped to play Ophelia and Naomi, 47, will star as Hamlet's mother Gertrude.

'Mad Men' writer Semi Chellas has penned the script and it will be directed by The Waiting City's Claire McCarthy.