Rosamund Pike set to play Amy Dunne in David Fincher's film adaptation of Gone Girl

Rosamund Pike looks set to star in the film adaptation of popular thriller Gone Girl.

The British actress has been offered the role and is expected to sign to the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She will play female lead Amy Dunne, whose deteriorating marriage to husband Nick- played by Ben Affleck- becomes central to the plot after she disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary.

Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman and Emily Blunt are reported to have been in-line for the role, but were ruled out due to availability among other reasons.

Reese Witherspoon had been the favourite to take up the role of the controlling female protagonist, having bought the rights to develop the book into a film last summer.

Gone Girl has already been hailed as this year’s "publishing sensation" after selling over 500,000 copies since it was first published in January.

The book's author Gillian Flynn, who was nominated for this year's Women's Prize for Fiction, has written the screenplay for the film which is due to start shooting in September.

Pike, last seen as Sam in The World’s End, is better known for her roles in Die Another Day (2002), Made in Dagenham (2010), An Education (2009) and Pride & Prejudice (2005) in which she played Jane Bennet.

The Gone Girl film will be directed by 0scar-nominated David Fincher, whose credits include The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Social Network (2010) and Fight Club (1999).

A release date for the film is yet to be set.