Warner Bros. will produce and finance “
Coco Before Chanel” (“
Coco Avant Chanel“) a biopic of legendary French fashion designer
Coco Chanel which is based on book by
Edmonde Charles-Roux “
L'irreguliere.”
Production will begin next month in Paris under the direction of
Anne Fontaine. Her adaptation of “L'irreguliere” will focus on Chanel's early years. Fontaine co-wrote the script with
Camille Fontaine and
Christopher Hampton.
The four-month shoot will begin on September 15th in Paris, with a planned 2009 release.
Audrey Tautou has been signed to portray Chanel, who was credited with revolutionising women's fashion in the 20th century.
The director said in a statement:
“Audrey Tautou embodies all the qualities that made Coco such a fascinating individual, and the support we've received from The House of Chanel is incredibly gratifying.”
Chanel's art director
Karl Lagerfield will supervise the re-creation of the film's wardrobe.
