Actress Tika Sumpter is set to portray Michelle Obama in a movie about the U.S. First Lady's budding romance with the man who became President Barack Obama.

Southside With You will centre on the future leader and his wife's 1989 courtship, according to Deadline.com.

Ride Along's Sumpter will play Michelle, while producers are still searching for an actor to portray a young Barack.

Richard Tanne will direct a script written by himself, with filming set to begin in Chicago, Illinois in July (15).

The Obamas wed in 1992.