Sarah Polley has been tapped to star as the 17th century Queen of Sweden in the epic drama Queen Kristina, to be directed by veteran Finnish filmmaker Mika Kaurismäki.

The feature is a copro with Anna Stratton and Robin Cass of Toronto’s Triptych Media (High Life, Emotional Arithmetic) attached as coproducers, alongside Kaurismäki through his Marianna Films, and Hank Levine of Berlin-based Hank Levine Film (City of God).

Acclaimed Quebec playwright and screenwriter Michel Marc Bouchard (Lilies) will pen the script, which follows the life of young Kristina, made queen of Sweden at the age of six after the death of her father, and who eventually decides to abdicate the throne.

The film will shoot in Canada and Sweden in the winter/spring of 2011.

Kaurismäki’s latest film, the comedy The House of Branching Love, is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday.

Queen Kristina will be released in Canada by Union Pictures.