LOS ANGELES -- Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank will incarnate Amelia Earhart in a film about the aviation pioneer alongside Hollywood star Richard Gere, industry daily Variety reported Wednesday.

Directed by Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, "Amelia," which is being filmed in Canada and South Africa, tells the story of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean before disappearing over the Pacific in 1937 at age 40.

Gere will play Earhart's husband, George Putnam, Variety reported.

Swank, 33, walked off with her first Oscar in 2000 for her leading role as a gender-conflicted girl in "Boys Don't Cry," and followed it up with another Oscar in 2004 for her portrayal of a female boxer in "Million Dollar Baby."

Gere, 57, who won a Golden Globe for best actor for his role in the musical "Chicago," starred in such classic hits as "Pretty Woman" alongside Julia Roberts in 1990 and "American Gigolo" in 1980.