Theron to star in 'Florence of Arabia'

Charlize Theron is to star in 'Florence of Arabia'.

The Oscar-winning actress has purchased the movie rights to Christopher Buckley's novel of the same name and is to take on the title role, as well as producing from Dean Craig's script.

The comic satire centres around Florence Farfaletti, Deputy to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs in the US State Department, who conceives a plan to tackle women's rights in the fictional Middle Eastern state of Wasabia.

Florence launches her campaign after seeing a friend of hers - the wife of an Arabian prince - executed on flimsy, sexist charges.

She bases herself in the neighbouring, more liberal state of Matar with a crack team that includes a hit man, press officer and gay Foreign Service officer to use television to shake things up.