Michel Hazanavicius has entered talks for In the Garden of Beasts, with Natalie Portman being sought for a role in the film, Digital Spy reported citing Deadline.

The Tom Hanks-starring movie will adapt Erik Larson's non-fiction book The Devil In The White City.

The Artist director is lining up to helm the film, with Portman wanted to play Hanks's on-screen daughter.

The film will centre around William Dodd, a mild-mannered Chicago professor who becomes the US's first ambassador to Nazi-ruled Germany.

His family initially embraces the vibrant Berlin scene, before Hitler begins to tighten his grip on the country and his party's atrocities begin to show.

Hazanavicius is currently working on The Search, and has also been reported to be eyeing high-concept comedy Will.

Portman is currently filming Marvel Studios sequel Thor: The Dark World.