Besson filming Aung San Suu Kyi biopic

French director Luc Besson is reportedly working on a new film project inspired by Burmese icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

The film is rumoured to star Michelle Yeoh as the famous activist, who was released from house arrest last month after serving a cumulative sentence of 15 years.

"I understand she is planning to play her in a film in the near future," Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer told Collider when asked about Yeoh's recent visit.

The film, called Into The Light, has already begun filming in Thailand, but the cast and crew have signed a confidentiality clause to keep details about the project a secret.

It was previously reported that Besson is to return to science fiction with a new project inspired by James Cameron's film Avatar.