Thomas Haden Church has been lined-up to star alongside Kate Hudson in Big Eyes - the true story of painter Margaret Keane.
The Sideways star will play Walter Keane, Margaret's second husband, who was originally credited for his wife's artwork before the couple divorced and a court ruled that the paintings were her creations.
Margaret's work, which often featured unnerving portraits of large-eyed children, became a mass-market phenomenon in the 1960s.
The film will be directed by writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski and will follow the couple through their marriage, divorce and court appearances. It also promises to feature Margaret's involvement in the feminist movement.
Filming is scheduled to start in June this year, although no release date has been set.
However, Church, who starred as the Sandman in Spider Man 3, is keeping himself busy with at least three other films coming out this year, including Eddie Murphy's comedy-fantasy NowehereLand.