Alessandro Nivola To Play The Love Interest In Biopic "Coco Avant Chanel"

August 15, 2008 12:28 p.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - American actor Alessandro Nivola joins the mostly French casts of fashion great Coco Chanel's silver screen biopic, "Coco Avant Chanel."

The 36-year-old "Best Laid Plans" star will play Arthur Capel, the man who funded Chanel's fashion business in its early stages, as per Hollywood Reporter.

The film, directed by Anne Fontaine, centers on the fashion designer's early life before her fashion house became an empire.

Young Chanel will be played by Audrey Tatou, who was announced earlier this year to be the next spokesmodel for the Parisian couturier's iconic scent, Chanel No. 5.

The biopic is set for a 2009 release.