Renee Zellweger won an Oscar for Cold Mountain

The star of Bridget Jones' Diary, Cold Mountain and Cinderella Man will play the lead in the film, which goes into production next March.

The film looks at the life of the Cumbrian author who went on to write The Tale Of Peter Rabbit.

Isle Of Man Film (IOMF) announced on Friday that 50% of the film will be shot on the island.

Beatrix Potter was born in Kensington, London, in 1866. She grew up in a wealthy Victorian family and had a conventional childhood for a girl of her class and era.

Potter wrote many of her books in the Lake District

She moved to the Lake District in 1913 and lived at Hill Top Farm in the village of Sawrey, where she wrote most of her books.

Alex Downie, the Isle of Man Minister for Trade and Industry, said: "The six months from the end of November could potentially see our most active period since filming began back in 1995.

"The international industry has shown a real enthusiasm for what we can offer.

"Results now speak for themselves. The next couple of months see major UK releases of The Libertine, Keeping Mum and Lassie, all IOM films starring major talent.