Zeta denies Dallas movie claims

Zeta Jones has denied she is to star with Brad Pitt in a Dallas movie

Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones has denied claims she is set to star in a big screen version of the 1980s television series, Dallas.

Film commentators had claimed the Swansea-born actress was to play Pamela Ewing in the tale of Texan oil family the Ewings and their ranch, Southfork.

Brad Pitt was reportedly in the running to be husband, Bobby, in the re-make.

But a spokeswoman for Jones told the BBC news website: "There is absolutely no truth at all to that rumour."

Dallas ran from 1978 to 1991 on both sides of the Atlantic. Its most famous scene was when screen baddie JR Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, was shot and wounded.

Hollywood observers have said screenwriter Robert Harling has the task of condensing the scripts of more than 350 hour-long episodes of the glamorous soap into a two-hour movie.

He was quoted as saying: "We want to make a big all-star, flashy, go-for-it version of the TV series.

He said:"It's all about reinventing the series to fit 2006 - the year we want to release the film."

Brad Pitt appeared in three episodes of the original Dallas television series in 1987.

More recently, he starred with Jones in Ocean's Twelve.

Larry Hagman famously played the baddie, JR Ewing

Burt Reynolds was said to be lined up to take on the role of the iconic JR Ewing, perhaps with Melanie Griffith as his alcoholic wife Sue Ellen.

But a spokeswoman for Jones rebutted claims that she has a role in the proposed Dallas the movie.

She said: "There is absolutely no truth at all to that rumour. Mrs Zeta Jones is not starring in the movie version of Dallas.

"You will note that our industry papers of record, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, have not reported this as there is no truth to the story."