Michelle Williams Contemplating WWII Romance Suite Francaise

Michelle Williams as Charity in The Greatest Showman
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

After a two-year flurry of activity that saw her starring in films such as Blue Valentine, Shutter Island, Meek’s Cutoff, Take This Waltz and My Week with Marilyn, Michelle Williams has remained relatively quiet (by her own busy standards) in 2012. She has, however, been filming scenes for Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful, which we’ll see next year, and she might be circling her next project as we speak.

Williams could take a role in the WWII drama Suite Francaise, directed by Saul Dibb (The Duchess), according to Variety. The story follows the exploits of a young, married woman living in occupied France who falls in love with a German officer, forcing her to choose between loyalty to her country – and her husband – and the new feelings she has for this stranger. As Variety points out there is a musical component to the screenplay - Williams’ character plays the piano, and the German officer is a former composer. The two bond over a shared passion for music.

Williams could be in the running because David Parfitt and Mark Cooper, who backed My Week with Marilyn, are producing. Suite Francaise would like to start filming next spring in London. That gives Williams plenty of time to promote Oz, which Disney plans to have in theaters on March 8th. And, of course, we believe that Williams is capable of laying virtually any role convincingly. We’re just happy to hear that she’s working, and not taking a long hiatus. What do you think? Does this sound like an interesting role for Williams? Or should Dibb just go after his Duchess lead, Keira Knightley, who has worked to establish herself as the unofficial queen of the period romance?

Sean O'Connell
Managing Editor

Sean O’Connell is a journalist and CinemaBlend’s Managing Editor. Having been with the site since 2011, Sean interviewed myriad directors, actors and producers, and created ReelBlend, which he proudly cohosts with Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy. And he's the author of RELEASE THE SNYDER CUT, the Spider-Man history book WITH GREAT POWER, and an upcoming book about Bruce Willis.