AceShowbiz -

Several different sources reported actress Keira Knightley about to star in the upcoming drama romance "Silk." And as KeiraWeb.com has confirmed, the star has already signed on to star in the film which Francois Girard going to direct and produce as well.

Based on a best-selling novel by Alessandro Baricco, "Silk" is the story of a married silkworm smuggler, Herve Joncour, in 19th Century France who travels to Japan to collect his clandestine cargo. While there he spots a beautiful European woman, the concubine of a local baron, with whom he becomes obsessed. Without speaking the same language, they communicate through letters until war intervenes. Their unrequited love persists however, and Herve's wife Helene begins to suspect.

Shooting on the film reportedly will begin in 2006 after Keira completes filming the two upcoming back-to-back "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels.