Nicole Kidman’s ‘Grace of Monaco’ to be distributed by The Weinstein Company

It’s never too early to start speculating about who will be a contender at next year’s Oscars. Nicole Kidman, who already has an Oscar, could be a favorite to win a second for her role as Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco, which will be distributed by The Weinstein Company.

On Sunday, Deadline confirmed that TWC picked up distribution rights to the film, which was directed by Olivier Dahan (La vie en rose) and co-stars Tim Roth as Prince Rainier III. TWC is betting that the film is going to be big, paying a $5 million minimum, plus $10 million in marketing.

TWC is going to release it in December 2013, right in the middle of awards season, just like 2011’s The Iron Lady. That film went on to win Best Actress thanks to Meryl Streep’s performance.

Grace of Monaco is set a few years into Kelly’s time as princess, after she gave up Hollywood to marry Prince Rainier. It will focus on Monaco’s tax battles with France during the 1960s.

The film is already at the center of controversy. Last month, Kelly’s son, Prince Albert II, and his siblings, slammed the film and its script. They claimed that the producers didn’t listen to any of their suggestions.

“Therefore, the royal family wishes to stress that this film in no way constitutes a biopic,” they said, noting that it is “purely fictional.”

The Best Actress race for 2013 is already taking shape. Kidman could go up against Naomi Watts, who is playing Princess Diana in Diana.