Pathe has started principal photography on location in the UK for Jane Campion’s Bright Star.

Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Paul Schneider and Kerry Fox star. The story is about the 23-year-old English poet John Keats (Whishaw) who starts a secret affair with the girl next door (Cornish), who is an unlikely match initially unconcerned with his poetry.

Producers are Jan Chapman, who also produced Campion’s Oscar-winning The Piano, and Mr Bean’s Holiday veteran Caroline Hewitt.

Pathe International is handling international sales and Pathe will release the film theatrically in the UK and France. Hopscotch will release in Australia.

The film is backed by Pathe, Film Finance Corporation Australia, BBC Films and the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund, in association with the New South Wales Film and Television Office and Hopscotch International.