Scarlett steps into Kate's shoes

"Lost in Translation" star Scarlett Johansson has stepped in to play the female lead in Woody Allen's latest project.

14:03 30 June 2004

"Lost in Translation" star Scarlett Johansson has stepped in to play the female lead in Woody Allen's latest project.

Kate Winslet was originally lined up to play the part but quit on Friday - claiming she wanted to spend more time with her family.

The "Titanic" leading lady was due to work with Brian Cox, Emily Mortimer, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the new film - which is set in London.

But when filming for the new project was combined with promotional duties for her last film "Finding Neverland" she had no time left for her husband and children.

Scarlett stepped in to fill the breach, her schedule clearly not bothering her.

After starring in two films in 2003 ("Lost in Translation" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring") she was already set to feature in six upcoming films.

The Woody Allen project (as yet without a name) will be added to roles in "A Love Song for Bobby Long", "A Good Woman", Synergy", "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie", "Mission Impossible 3", and "The Black Dahlia".