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Kevin Kline will star in his very first all French-speaking role, starring with Sandrine Bonnaire and Jennifer Beals in Caroline Bottaro’s drama “Joueuse (Queen to Play).”

He spoke some French in “French Kiss” with Meg Ryan. The story focuses on Bonnaire who plays a hotel maid captivated by a romantic couple playing chess while staying at the Mediterranean island hotel where she works. A doctor (Kline) whose house she cleans reluctantly becomes her mentor in the game, leading her to a chess tournament and initiating major transformations in her life.

First-time feature director Bottaro adapted the screenplay from Bertina Henrichs’ novel “The Chess Player.”Filming begins Tuesday on the isle of Corsica. Then, shooting proceeds to Paris.. Kevin Kline cast in French-speaking roleBy Gregg Goldstein March 27, 2008Kevin Kline (Getty Images photo)NEW YORK — In his first French-speaking role, Kevin Kline will star with Sandrine Bonnaire and Jennifer Beals in Caroline Bottaro’s drama “Joueuse (Queen to Play).”Bonnaire plays a hotel maid captivated by a romantic couple (Beals and Francis Renaud) playing chess while staying at the Mediterranean island hotel where she works. The doctor (Kline) whose house she cleans reluctantly becomes her mentor in the game, leading her to a chess tournament and initiating major transformations in her life.Kline courted Meg Ryan as a Parisian in “French Kiss,” but this is his first role in a French production.

“He speaks good French, better than John Malkovich,” said Michel Feller, who is producing the film with Dominique Besnehard for Mon Voisin Prods. and Blue Print Film’s Amelie Latcha.

“Joueuse” is a France-Germany co-production with France 2 and Studio Canal, with the participation of Canal +, CNC, Eurimages, Cinecinema, Telemunchen-Concorde and the Collectivite Territoriale de Corse. Jean-Philippe Laroche is the executive producer.

First-time feature director Bottaro adapted the screenplay from Bertina Henrichs’ novel “The Chess Player.”Principal photography began Tuesday on the isle of Corsica. Shooting continues there through April 26, followed by Paris-area filming from April 29-May 14.Kline is repped by CAA, WMI and the Hofflund Co. Bonnaire is repped by Artmedia. Beals is repped by APA.