American actress Zooey Deschanel is the latest international star to be signed up for medieval comedy fantasy film Your Highness which is being shot in Northern Ireland and is scheduled to start production on Monday.

She joins stars like Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman in the Universal movie, which is directed by David Gordon Green, backed by the Northern Ireland Screen Fund and supported by Invest NI.

The 29-year-old actress, musician and singer-songwriter will play the bride of the prince's more heroic brother (James Franco). The prince (‘Your Highness’) is played by McBride and billed as lazy and arrogant, with Franco saving the kingdom and his brother’s finances.

Deschanel — whose film credits include The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and 500 Days of Summer — will be part of the all-star cast assembled at The Paint Hall Studio in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, with other locations in various parts of the province.

Production is scheduled to begin on Monday and Natalie Portman has already been seen in Belfast.

The decision to film in Northern Ireland follows a recent trip to Los Angeles by Northern Ireland Screen chief executive Richard Williams, with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Jimmy Horowitz, executive vice-president of Universal Pictures and co-president of production, said they chose the country for its locations but added that its film incentive and favourable exchange rate had also helped attract the production.

The film is expected to spend about £10m on local goods and services, and to offer employment opportunities for local crews.