Tom Hooper, who last directed the English football drama The Damned United, has signed on for his next film, which will be a period drama entitled The King's Speech. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon have all recently joined the project.

Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are set to headline The King's Speech, which was written by David Seidler. The screenplay follows the relationship between King George VI and speech therapist Lionel Logue, who helped the royal lose his stammer and embrace his leadership skills.

Tom Hooper recently started principle photography on The King's Speech in England. The Weinstein Company will distribute the film in North America when it is released in late 2010.