Colin Firth to star in film version of Mamma Mia!

The actor best known as a romantic lead in the hit television adaption of Pride and Prejudice, and film Bridget Jones Diary, will join the high-profile adaptation of the hit West End show, in his first foray into the musical genre, although he did sing briefly in 2002's The Importance of Being Earnest.

According to a report on the Guardian website, Firth will play a nerdy British businessman in the story of a young woman and bride-to-be looking for her biological father.

The adaptation of Mamma Mia!, which was a huge success both in the West End and on Broadway, is promising to be a major Hollywood production.

Meryl Streep has signed up to play the heroine's mother, Donna, who is reluctant to reveal details about her past to her daughter Sophie.

Streep will be joined by Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard (Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Dogville), who will play the other two potential progenitors.

Sophie will be portrayed by a relative unknown, American actor Amanda Seyfried, who appeared in the high-school comedy Mean Girls in 2004.

Mamma Mia was adapted to the screen by Britain's Catherine Johnson, who wrote the musical's original libretto.

The film is co-produced by Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. Filming will take place between June and October, in London and Greece.