Michelle Williams is in negotiations to star in 'The Emperor's Children'.

Noah Baumbach is reported to have met with the 29-year-old actress to discuss her playing the role of Danielle Minkoff - a TV documentary maker - in the adaptation of the 2006 Claire Messud novel.

She is the fourth star to have her name attached to the film, with Keira Knightley, Richard Gere and Eric Bana all signed up to appear in the drama, movie news website The Wrap reports.

'The Emperor's Children' is set in the months leading up to and following the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York in 2001, and tells the tale of three Brown University graduates approaching their 30th birthdays and struggling to deal with their life expectations.

Michelle has had a number of big movie roles since her breakthrough part of Jen Lindley in TV show 'Dawson's Creek'.

As well as an Oscar-nominated supporting role in drama 'Brokeback Mountain', she has also starred as Leonardo Dicaprio's wife in recent Martin Scorsese thriller 'Shutter Island'.

Later this year she will feature in western film 'Meek's Cutoff' with Paul Dano and Bruce Greenwood.

'The Emperor's Children' is still seeking finance and does not yet have a preliminary release date.