By Linda Massarella

PUBLISHED: 17:34 GMT, 24 May 2012 | UPDATED: 06:46 GMT, 25 May 2012

Minka Kelly will be stepping up to the big leagues after being cast as Jackie Kennedy in a powerful all-star cast of The Butler.

Director Lee Daniel, in Cannes screening his newest film, The Paperboy, said in an interview with Screen Daily that he had previously been eyeing Mila Kunis for the role of Jackie, but has now definitely decided on Kelly. 

Matthew McConaughey, 42, will play Jack Kennedy.

The last time a young, brunette starlet was picked to play Jackie Onassis Kennedy, it was Katie Holmes in the TV miniseries The Kennedys.

But The Butler is no miniseries. Lee, the producer of Monster's Ball and director of Precious, is rumoured to have a tremendous script in hand and a bevy of huge stars including Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, John Cusak, Lenny Kravitz and Cuba Gooding Jr. Shooting begins in July.

Kelly, who famously dated New York Yankee short stop Derek Jeter, is largely known for her role as a television actress on the programme Friday Night Lights. 

Most recently, she was seen in the reboot of Charlie's Angels, which was cancelled after just one season.

The Butler is based on the true story of Eugene Allen, who during 50 years of service, worked for eight different White House presidents.

Oscar winner Forest Whitaker will star as Allen while Oprah Winfrey will have a small role as his daughter.

Other cast members include Alan Rickman, who will play Ronald Reagan. Liam Needson is said to be tapped to play Lyndon B. Johnson.