Emma Watson is attached to star in "Napoleon and Betsy," a period drama being written and directed by Benjamin Ross.

Watson will play Betsy Balcombe, a young, impetuous noblewoman trapped on the isolated British Isle of St. Helena who falls in love with Napoleon, who is in exile on the island.

Watson is filling the shoes recently vacated by Scarlett Johansson, who stepped aside as the part skewed younger.

Johansson is still producing, along with Alexandra Milchan, Melanie Sloan and Gilles Arondeau.

Watson, who just signed with WMA in all areas, is known for her role as Hermione Granger in Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter" films, and is completing filming on the sixth installment, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

With filming of the last chapter, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," scheduled to commence in early 2009, Watson hopes to shoot "Napoleon and Betsy" in the fall.

Watson recently starred in the BBC telefilm "Ballet Shoes" and additionally lends her voice to the role of Princess Pea in the animated film "The Tale of Despereaux," which Universal releases this year. She continues to be repped by Markham and Froggatt in the U.K.

Emma Watson joins 'Napoleon'

By Borys Kit

April 17, 2008,