ROME (CWNews.com) - An Italian television company announced on Friday that it is planning a TV movie of the life of Pope John Paul II starring Ben Kingsley as the pontiff.

    Mediaset is reportedly in talks with the actor, who has starred in the Oscar-winning films "Ghandi" and "Schindler's List," as well as the British director of "Ghandi," Sir Richard Attenborough. The film would be part of a series of biographies of key figures of the 20th century, which has included Pope John XXIII, Stalin, Mussolini, and Bill Gates.

    Kingsley has worked with Mediaset in the past, starring as Moses in their Bible series. The company said the Vatican still had to give its approval to the project, but foresaw no complications.