Julia Roberts to Play Murdered Conservationist  5/22/07

Hollywood star Julia Roberts has signed up produce and play the lead role in a movie about a murdered British conservationist.

The actress will star as Joan Root, an award-winning wildlife documentary maker who was shot in her bed in Kenya last year (06). The killing was believed to have been suspicious, with local police investigating whether she was killed by a opportunist thief, or assassinated by those who objected to her conservation work.

Tim Bevan, of Working Title Films, insists he is "delighted" by Roberts' involvement with the project, and adds, "We are thrilled to be making a film about such a courageous, adventurous and passionate woman."

Filming on the as yet untitled film is slated to begin filming in Africa next year (08).