Keira Knightley to play the Sugar Plum Fairy in Disney's live action take on The Nutcracker

Mackenzie Foy takes the lead as the little girl Clara whose Christmas toys come to life

Keira Knightley has proved a hit for Disney before in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (Getty Images)

It’s Keira Knightley’s turn to step into the lucrative world of Disney live action, with the Oscar-nominated actress confirmed to play the Sugar Plum Fairy in the The Nutcracker.

The upcoming movie, full title The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, will be based on ETA Hoffmann’s 1816 story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The most famous version of The Nutcracker is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet, based on Alexandre Dumas’s adaptation of the classic tale.

Fifteen-year-old Mackenzie Foy (Interstellar, The Little Prince) is taking the lead as Clara, whose Christmas toys come to life to try and overthrow the tyrannous Mouse King. Knightley’s character reigns over the Land of Sweets, where she performs the famous “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” in the presence of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince.

Lasse Hallstrom is directing from a script by newcomer Ashleigh Powell with Morgan Freeman and Misty Copeland also joining the cast in as-yet-unspecified roles, Variety has learned.

Knightley has proved a strong draw for Disney in its hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean films, while the studio is showing no signs of easing up on its recent reboot rampage.

Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda is co-writing the score for a live action remake of The Little Mermaid, while the Emma Watson-led Beauty and the Beast arrives next March. 101 Dalmatians (again), Maleficent 2, The Jungle Book 2, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Dumbo are also all in the pipeline.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is yet to receive a release date.