Phillip Noyce, the director of the motion picture historical thriller "Catch a Fire", arrives for the premiere of the film at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, California on October 25, 2006. The movie tells the real-life story of South African Patrick Chamusso, portrayed by Derek Luke, in the turbulent 1980's, and his fight against the country's oppressive apartheid system. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)

Noyce earned accolades for directing the films "Dead Calm," "Rabbit-Proof Fence" and "The Quiet American," as well as helming episodes of the Showtime series "Brotherhood."

Noyce's new movie is about the historical figure who became Scotland's Roman Catholic queen as a child in 1542 and who was later imprisoned for years, then beheaded for allegedly plotting to kill Elizabeth I.

Set to start production in April, the film will be filmed in London and Scotland, Variety.com reported Wednesday.

Johansson, who won raves for playing Vermeer's muse in "Girl with a Pearl Earring," has also starred in the films "Match Point," "Scoop" and "Lost in Translation." She will soon be seen playing Mary Boleyn in another period film "The Other Boleyn Girl."