March 22, 2014 - 12:31 AMT
Oscar-nommed Ellen Page to play comedian John Belushi's wife in bio

Oscar-nominated actress Ellen Page is in talks to play John Belushi's wife, Judith Jacklin, opposite Emile Hirsch in Steve Conrad's upcoming biopic, TheWrap said.

Jacklin was Belushi's loving high school girlfriend who eventually married the comedian and was left devastated by his death. She is now known as Judy Belushi Pisano, who is producing the movie with Emjag's Alexandra Milchan and Bonnie Timmermann, as well as Film 360's Scott Lambert.

Conrad (“The Promotion”) will direct from his own screenplay, which is based on the book “Belushi” by Belushi Pisano and Tanner Colby.

The indie drama will explore Belushi's rise to fame in the late '70s, from “Saturday Night Live” to his starring turns in “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers.” Belushi died of a fatal drug overdose at age 33 at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

Dan Aykroyd, one of the movie's main characters who was one of Belushi's best friends and close collaborators, is executive producing the film, which is expected to start production later this year in New York.

Page will soon be seen in Bryan Singer's sequel “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” and her spy movie “Queen & Country” recently snagged a director in Craig Viveiros. 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment are backing the adaptation of Oni Press’ comic book series, which follows a British agent who goes on the run from her own people as she tries to bring down a terrorist on English soil.

Page is also set to star alongside Julianne Moore in the gay rights drama “Freeheld” as well as topline Patricia Rozema's indie movie “Into the Forest.”