British director 'set for Dallas'

Gurinder Chadha has previously directed Bend It Like Beckham

British film-maker Gurinder Chadha is to direct the forthcoming film version of 1980s TV series Dallas, say reports.

Variety newspaper says the director of Bend It Like Beckham is close to signing up as a replacement for original choice Robert Luketic, who backed out for creative reasons.

John Travolta and Jennifer Lopez will play leads JR Ewing and Sue Ellen.

Chadha was also behind the box office hit Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood remake of Jane Austen's classic novel.

She is currently working on another cinema adaptation of a long-running TV show, I Dream of Jeannie, a 1960s sitcom about a mischievous genie.

Coincidentally, this also featured Larry Hagman, whose best-known role was as JR in Dallas.

Filming of the new version of Dallas - produced by 20th Century Fox - will begin towards the end of this year.