Recent Golden Globe winner Anne Hathaway will be the heroine of a new film freely adapting William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, Thewrap.com reveals.

After Shame and The Iron Lady, writer Abi Morgan will adapt Shakespeare's story, set in 16th century Italy, to the present day.

Shakespeare's play follows two sisters, Katherina and the younger Bianca, who is about to get married. But Bianca's destiny is dependent on her older sister, as she cannot marry until the headstrong and unsubmissive Katherina finds a suitable match.

Not unlike many classic British plays, The Taming of the Shrew was adapted for the big screen more than once. One of the most famous versions remains Franco Zeffirelli's, released in 1967 with Elizabeth Taylor as the heroine. A modern adaptation starring Julia Stiles, 10 Things I Hate About You, was also released in 1999.