Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is reportedly courting Katie Holmes to play the cunning wife of U.S. Revolutionary War general-turned-traitor Benedict Arnold in a new film.

The movie will be a big screen adaptation of The Traitor's Wife, the historical novel written by former New York governor George Pataki's daughter Allison, about the infamous U.S. military man who turned his back on his country and joined the British during the fight for American independence in the late 18th century.

Pataki has reportedly thrown her support behind the idea of the Batman Begins actress starring in the film and made her feelings known to Holmes during a reception for the book in New York on Friday (21Mar14).

A source tells the New York Post, "(Allison said), 'If you want the role, it's yours. I will endorse it'."

Weinstein is reportedly one of 33 producers vying for the rights to the film.