Jane Austen will be played by Anne Hathaway in a new biopic, Becoming Jane, according to Empire magazine. Apparently it is to be based largely on Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin.

I remember reading this biog and enjoying it a lot. The movie will no doubt focus on Austen's romantic attachment to Tom Lefroy. According to Pemberley (a wonderful Web site filled with everything Austen):

In 1795-6, she had a mutual flirtation with Thomas Lefroy (an Irish relative of Jane Austen's close older friend Mrs. Anne Lefroy).

But when things started to get too warm between them, Austen's old friend Anne Lefroy "who had disapproved of her nephew Tom's conduct towards Jane" sent him packing from the village. Later, he became Chief Justice of Ireland and ended up marrying into some money. Money ruled marriage in those days, and Austen found herself (she was only 20 years old, remember) at the pointy end of the market for conjugal matches.

Apparently he wore a white jacket. This fact should provide solid material for the wardrobe department at Columbia Pictures, director Julian Jarrold and lead actor James McAvoy, who is to play Tom.

A related item: James McAvoy will also act in an upcoming adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement, which has been in the news.