Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick is in final negotiations to join the new adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, starring Hailee Steinfeld as Juliet.

Italian filmmaker Carlo Carlei is directing from a script by Julian Fellowes.

Hailee Steinfeld is set to star as Juliet, while Holly Hunter was recently cast as the Nurse, who effectively raised Juliet and serves as a go-between for her and Romeo, who has not yet been cast.

Ed Westwick will play Tybalt, Juliet's hot-tempered cousin who is always quick to draw his sword.

Production is scheduled to start this summer in Italy.