Spanish actress Dafne Fernandez has been cast in the lead in Gladiator producer David Franzoni's remake ofKorean political thriller Joint Security Area.

Franzoni is directing the story of a Spanish army officer (Fernandez) sent by the Hague toinvestigate a violent confrontation between US Marines and Mexican SpecialForces. Shooting on the low budget feature is set to begin in early 2007.

Fernandez is well known to Spanish television viewers and herfeature credits include Goya In Bordeaux, Box 507 and Luna's Game.

"Modeling and acting since she was three years old, Dafne isan extraordinary talent, sophisticated, yet completely human," Franzonisaid.

Franzoni won the Oscar in 2001 for producing Gladiator, which he also wrote. CAA is packagingthe project.