Stephen Rea has joined the cast of Spanish-based international co-production Aphrodite (Afrodita), writer-director Fernando Solanas' adaptation of popular Isabel Allende novel Aphrodite: Stories, Recipes And Other Aphrodisiacs.

Rea will star alongside Cecilia Roth and Marisa Paredes, reunited after Oscar-winner All About My Mother (Todo Sobre Mi Madre), and Italy's Giovanna Mezzogiorno, in the story of a woman who copes with her daughter's tragic death by writing a book of aphrodisiac recipes and initiating a new love affair.

The $5m film will be shot in a mix of English and Spanish beginning late August in Spain, Switzerland, France and Argentina. Spanish producer Astrolabio Producciones has signed on co-producers Film 3 (Italy), Leo&Cie (France), Thelma Films (Switzerland) and Cine Sur (Argentina). A British co-producer is also anticipated.

Astrolabio is also prepping writer-director Eliseo Subiela's English-language love story Heartlift; Patagonia Express, a Spanish-language road movie based on the novel by Luis Sepulveda; and tennis love tale The Speed Of Love, being adapted by writer Antonio Skarmata in English.