Madonna to direct new film Ade: A Love Story about an interracial island romance

Despite past failures, Madonna is set to direct another movie, this time about an African island romance.

The US pop icon's 2011 film WE was widely panned by critics, but Ade: A Love Story will see her try her hand again.

The film has been adapted from Rebecca Walker's first novel, daughter of The Color Purple author Alice Walker and civil rights lawyer Mel Leventhal.

Ade: A Love Story tells the story of a 19-year-old US student who falls in love with a young Muslim man while travelling with a female friend on the island of Lamu near Kenya.

Their hastily-planned marriage is doomed, however, by violent political and cultural forces.

The author tweeted confirmation of the news last night, posting “It’s official!” on her profile.

Oscar-winning Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Silver Linings Playbook) will be producing through Bruce Cohen Productions, with Jessica Leventhal and Walker also on board.

Madonna, who wrote a blurb for the original book’s promotion, is currently searching for a writer to pen the project’s screenplay.

Based on the relationship between King Edward VIII and US divorcee Wallis Simpson, Madonna's 2011 film WE made less than a million dollars at the global box office.