The American film studio Weinstein Co. has won the rights to the forthcoming John Lennon biopic, Nowhere Boy.

The company will control the film's distribution in the US, Latin America and Germany, the Hollywood Reporter says.

Nowhere Boy will attempt to portray the impact that women around Lennon had on his upbringing.

Shamless actress Anne-Marie Duff will assume the role of Lennon's mother, Julia, while up-and-coming actor Aaron Johnson will play the Beatle.

Nowhere Boy, which was written by Lennon’s half-sister, is being adapted for the big screen by Matt Greenhalgh.

Artist Sam Taylor-Wood will direct the project, which last year was one of seven films given a grant by the UK Film Council.

Lennon was killed on his doorstep in New York in 1980.

(by Jason Gregory)