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The last time we saw Madonna anywhere near a movie, at least in any significant way that didn’t include her getting a soundtrack credit, she was mercilessly stabbing away at the career of then husband Guy Ritchie in the torturous Swept Away. And while Ritchie has since recovered, Madonna has not.

However, that does not appear to have any effect on her plans to direct a period piece about the abdication of the throne by King Edward VIII. Titled W.E., the film follows the story of twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, whose romance with King Edward VIII led to his abdication of the throne, leading to a massive constitutional crisis.

Madonna will co-write the script with Alex Keshishian (Truth or Dare) and is already in talks with Up in the Air star Vera Farmiga to play Simpson. There is no telling when shooting will begin.

Surprisingly enough, this will be Madonna’s second turn as a director. Her comedy Filth and Wisdom premiered in Berlin in 2008. In a review of that film, critic Brian Orndorf said of her work: “Either Madonna failed to successfully guide her movie to a coherent state of mind or she simply has no gift for filmmaking.”

That’s encouraging.