Catherine Zeta-Jones is in talks with director Rob Marshall to star in the long-rumoured movie adaptation of the award-winning Bob Fosse musical Chicago.

Marshall previously made a version of Annie for ABC, while Zeta-Jones began her career in musicals. The Miramax production would see her playing Velma, the homicidal performer who, along with fellow murderer Roxie, becomes a celebrity in Chicago in the 20s.

The movie, which has been linked to everyone from Madonna to Goldie Hawn since the Broadway revival of the play, has a script by Bill Condon, who won an Oscar for the screenplay of Gods and Monsters.

Other actors possibly down for roles include Hugh Jackman as lawyer Billy Flynn and Kathy Bates as prison matron Mama Morton. No word as yet on the availability of the recent star of London's production of Chicago - Denise van Outen.