HOLLYWOOD star Paul Bettany, best known for roles in hit movies The Da Vinci Code and Wimbledon, is heading for Wiltshire.

The star is going to be in Bradford-on-Avon to complete filming on his latest movie, Creation.

The film is an adaptation of the book Annie’s Box by Randal Keys, which focuses on the life of Charles Darwin, who Bettany will play.

He is heading for Bradford-on-Avon for two days at the end of November for the filming.

Bradford’s mayor Coun Paul Skidmore said: “We are very excited about it obviously. Anything that puts Bradford on the map I’m going to agree with.”

The film, which also stars Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly as Mrs Darwin, tells the story of Darwin’s relationship with his family, in particular his daughter Annie, and his personal struggles with writing The Origin of the Species.

Connelly, who won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2002 for the film Beautiful Mind, is not expected in Bradford for filming.

Parts of the town will be transformed into the hillside spa town of Malvern in the 1850s for the segment of the film where Darwin visits the Worcestershire town for health treatment.

Residents and businesses have been sent letters informing them of the filming, which is being carried out by Recorded Picture Company, based at Pinewood Studios.

Locations manager Jamie Lengyel said the town had the right scale, atmosphere and layout for the film.