Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina? Is There an Oscar in Her Future?

First look at actress in the title role of the upcoming adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy classic

By Peter Gicas Mar 01, 2012 6:45 PMTags
Anna Karenina, Keira KnightleyFocus Features

Think Keira Knightley should begin working on an acceptance speech for next year now?

Sure, her upcoming film, Anna Karenina, didn't make our first go-round of likely 2013 Oscar contenders, but after seeing these lush new stills, we're inclined to think this adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy classic may eventually be in the running for a few golden guys.

Focus Features

Aside from looking lavish, though, the movie certainly has a lot of other things going for it. In addition to Knightley in the title role, the film also stars Jude Law, Aaron Johnson and Emily Watson.

What's more, it's being directed by Joe Wright, who has already shown a knack for period pieces thanks to a couple of other Knightley-starring flicks, Atonement and Pride and Prejudice.

Oh, and the movie was penned by renowned Arcadia playwright Tom Stoppard, who made off with an Academy Award for cowriting the screenplay for 1998's Shakespeare in Love, which also went on to win...yep, Best Picture.

We'll see what happens in a little less than 12 months.

Anna Karenina is scheduled to be released this fall.