Australian actresses Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska were casted to play as lesbian lovers in the film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel, Carol.

Rumors of having Cate Blanchett and Mia Masikowska as lead roles in the film started to circulate last year. Today, The Hollywood Reporter confirms that indeed, the two Australian actresses were chosen for the roles. The film adaptation of the movie is to be written by Phyllis Nagy and to be directed by Todd Haynes.

Cate Blanchett was said to be the most perfect actress to play a role in the film since she had already worked with Carol's author, Patricia Highsmith, in the 1999 film Talented Mr. Ripley as Meredith.

Not only did Cate work with the book's author before, but she had been directed by director Haynes way back. She played the role of Jude in the 2007 Bob Dylan's biopic entitled, I'm Not There.

Mia Wasikowksa, on the other hand, was recently seen in the film remakes of Alice in Wonderland and Jane Eyre.

The novel Carol, was originally published in 1952 with the title The Price of Salt. Author Patricia Highsmith wrote the book using the pen name Claire Morgan. The novel's protagonist is Therese Belivet. She was a lonely but youthful woman working as a department store clerk in New York. Character Therese Belivet felt emptiness dating a young man named Richard. She did not even want to have sex with him.

Character Carol Aird is an elegant and beautiful woman in her early thirties whom Therese served one day in the department store. Carol, is an equally lonely woman who was in the middle of her divorce from a difficult husband.

The women's initial encounter stir up strange passionate emotions from within them and what transpire was a lesbian love story with a happy ending.

While reports were not clear who is going to play Therese or Carol, it is easy to assume that Cate Blanchett will play for Carol since the character was described as in her early thirties. And character's description of Therese being young and just dating suit Mia Wasikowska perfectly.

According to The Hollywood Reporter , The Weinstein Company was the one who acquired the U.S. copyrights for the novel Carol to be adapted into film. The copyrights acquisition was announced by the company following the Cannes success of Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue is the Warmest Color which won the Palme d'Or. This film was mostly applauded for the director's tasteful handling of explicit lesbian scenes.

The film adaptation will be produced by Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Wooley of Number 9 films in co-production with Film 4 and Cristine Vachon's Killer films.

Managing director for HanWay films, Thorsten Schumacher, lead the U.S. distribution deal in cooperation with president/managing director of European acquisitions Robert Walak and Weisntein Co. Presidnet of Acquisition Mark Gooder.

Mr. Schumacher said that "The stars couldn't have been more than aligned for this wonderful project, and with TWC now releasing the picture stateside, it's guaranteed that the creative team behind Carol will get the award recognition it deserves."

TWC co-Chairman Weinstein shared the same positivism saying that "Patricia Highsmith's book defied convention and broke social boundaries at the time that it was published. With the outstanding cast and filmmaking team being assembled, it will make a moving and poignant film as well."

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