Los Angeles-based Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide rights toAgnieszka Holland's love story Copying Beethoven, starring Ed Harris and Diane Kruger.

The story centres on a love affair between the composer and hisyoung assistant as he completed work on his last major piece, Symphony No.9.

Michael Taylor and UK-basedDavid Pupkewitz serve as producers on the project, which is due to begin filmingin the UK in spring 2005.

Stephen J Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson, who teamed up on Ali and Nixon, wrote the original screenplay.

Myriad president Kirk D'Amico negotiated the rights with thepicture's executive producer Ernst Goldschmidt.

"We believe that audiences the world over will respond to thepowerful story and passion for music and life in this portrayal of the unique artist,Beethoven," D'Amico said in a statement.

Harris'credits include The Hours, Pollock, The Truman Show and Apollo 13, while Kruger shot to fame as Helen ofTroy in Troy and willnext be seen in the action picture National Treasure, which opens in the US on Nov 24.