Hayek is now set to play Kahlo opposite Antonio Banderas and Alfred Molina

Lopez was due to play Kahlo in a biopic to be directed by Luis Valdez, who made La Bamba, and produced by Francis Ford Coppola.

Another film about Kahlo is set to go ahead - a project starring Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Ashley Judd.

This film will be directed by Julie Taymor, best-known for her highly acclaimed stage version of The Lion King.

Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 - to mixed European and Mexican parents.

Lopez's next movie Angel Eyes opens in the US in May

She was injured in a bus accident at the age of 18 which led to the long hospital confinements, operations and suffering that she depicted in her work.

Kahlo was married to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and her work too was influenced by nationalism and Mexican folk art.

She often wore traditional costumes and elaborately braided her hair with ribbons, bows, combs, and fresh flowers to show her identification with Mexico's culture.

The artist died aged 47, but her popularity as an artist and icon of Mexican culture have remained strong.