OSCAR-nominees BENICIO DEL TORO and JULIETTE BINOCHE are to play lovers - in a raunchy period drama.

The Frenchwoman, up for the Best Actress gong for CHOCOLAT (2000), will play a nun who poses for and is seduced by Renaissance painter FRA LIPPI, played by the Puerto Rican-born TRAFFIC (2000) star.

Central Station (1998) director WALTER SALLES will be in charge of the $30 million (£20 million) film, which is due to commence in Florence, Italy, next autumn (01).

Co-producer SYDNEY POLLACK says, "Benito and Juliette are a wonderful combination, both raw and sensitive. A little bit of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST though I don't think Benito's family would see it that way."

The movie TO HAVE SINNED has been adapted from the novel THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN by KATIE CAMPBELL. (ES/WNWCAN/KW)

Source: WENN