Olivia Wilde is in line to play the 70s model Suzy Miller, who wed racing driver James Hunt only to get a quick divorce and tie the knot with his friend Richard Burton.

Director Ron Howard is understood to be pursuing Russell Crowe to play Burton in a small role. The story broke on Tuesday and was subsequently not denied by sources.

Cross Creek and Exclusive Media Group (EMG) are co-financing and co-producing the project, which has begun principal photography in Europe and is also being produced by Imagine and Working Title from a screenplay by Peter Morgan.

Chris Hemsworth stars as British playboy and racing icon Hunt and Daniel Bruehl will portray his Austrian racing rival Niki Lauda.

Exclusive Films International announced at Toronto that it was handling sales and is expected to give Rush a big push at AFM. Universal will distribute in North America per its recently announced deal with Cross Creek.