On stage, she has been played by such notable talents as Marion Cotillard and Sarah Snook in recent years.

While it will be a highly sought-after role among established young actresses, Luhrmann had no qualms about casting little-known Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in Elvis. His performance earned a best actor nomination at the Oscars.

Joan of Arc films have also unearthed screen talents over the decades.

For the 1957 film St Joan, Otto Preminger reportedly tested more than 18,000 young women for the role before choosing the unknown Jean Seberg who went on, after damning reviews for her early performances, to become a French New Wave icon in Breathless.

While few details about the new film have become public, Luhrmann would be expected to shoot it in Australia to take advantage of the country’s filmmaking incentives. He has shot all his films here, including Moulin Rouge!, set in Paris, The Great Gatsby, set in New York, and Elvis, set in various American locations, including Las Vegas.

Luhrmann, who turned 62 this week, dropped out of an English-language adaptation of the Russian novel The Master and Margarita earlier this year after concerns about the book rights. He has been approached for comment.

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