Scott Thomas in Vatican thriller

Kristin Scott Thomas is to star in a political thriller set against the backdrop of the Vatican, according to reports.

The actress will play a tenacious Catholic mother who comes to the Vatican to solve the mysterious death of her Swiss Guard son.

The French-language political thriller, called Vatican, Christ Lives With The Borgias, will be filmed by French director Laurent Herbiet, Variety said.

"We've been doing extensive research for three years to make the script stick to reality as much as possible," producer Xavier Castano said.

Screen Daily said that the movie will also star French actor Andre Dussollier as a corrupt cardinal and Spaniard Sergi Lopez as his bodyguard.