Noomi Rapace is set to play one of the most famous opera singers of all time, Maria Callas.

A biopic is in the pipeline which will concentrate on the American-born Greek soprano’s later years spent with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Known as la Divina, Callas led an emotional and dramatic life, full of tragedy and scandal, providing plenty of scope for the story telling on the big screen.

Whale Rider director Niki Caro is on board, calling the shots from a screenplay she adapted from a biography of Callas by Alfonso Signorini.

A truly international co-production, the film comes from De Angelis Group in Italy, Belladonna Productions (New York) and Londinium Films/Ealing Studios holding up the UK side of things.

We have yet to ascertain shooting locations, but we will be following the project on Production Intelligence with listings appearing from 14 May.

Noomi Rapace photo courtesy of Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty images