Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald is to star in a film version of the classic children's book series Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome.

 

The film was officially announced at the Cannes film festival, and will also star Rafe Spall, who will lead the cast as Captain Flint.

The screenplay is by Scottish writer Andrea Gibb, writer of Dear Frankie, and will be directed by Philippa Lowthorpe.

The UK rights to the feature have been nought by StudioCanal, Screendaily has reported.

Production on the film version will begin in the Lake District this summer.

BBC Films and the BFI have funded the film.

The film is set over a summer holiday where the Walker children and their sailing rivals, the Blacketts, have a series of adventures on the waters of the Lake District.

Nick Barton, of Harbour Pictures, which is making the film, said: "It then took me several years to finally set sail and option the film rights with BBC Films.

"We are delighted that the BFI, HanWay Films, StudioCanal, Screen Yorkshire, Electric Shadow and Ian Maiden have all come on board the project to help realise our vision for this evocative book and film.

"We are also grateful to the Ransome Trustees and the Ransome Society for all their support."

Danny Perkins, of StudioCanal commented: "We are incredibly excited to be involved in this special project; Swallows and Amazons has the same traditional values that propelled Paddington to success, coupled with Philippa Lowthorpe's fresh take on the material, audiences will delight in this film."

Virginia McKenna and Ronald Fraser were among stars of a 1974 film version of the story.