Lane lands 'Secretariat' lead

LOS ANGELES, June 11 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Diane Lane has signed on to star in "Secretariat," director Randall Wallace's movie about the 1973 Triple Crown-winning racehorse and his owner.

Variety.com said Wallace is set to start shooting the film, based on Mike Rich's screenplay, this fall.

Lane has been cast in the role of Penny Chenery, a mother and housewife who owned Secretariat and became known as "the first lady of racing," the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.

Lane's film credits include "The Outsiders," "The Cotton Club," "The Perfect Storm," "Unfaithful," "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Nights in Rodanthe."