Angelina Jolie has signed on to star in the film adaptation of Ayn Rand's ambitious novel "Atlas Shrugged," Variety reports.

Jolie will play the role of railroad executive Dagney Taggart, the most powerful female character in any of Rand's books.

The adaptation has been in the works for several years, with actors such as Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway all showing interest in different roles along the way.

Jolie will next be seen with Matt Damon in "The Good Shepherd", and the Robert Zemeckis-directed adventure "Beowulf."