Ethan Hawke in St. John's working on feature-film Maudie

Two well-known actors will be shooting a feature film in Newfoundland about famed folk artist Maud Lewis.

Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins are starring in the feature film Maudie, which is about the life of legendary Nova Scotia painter Maud Lewis.

Hawke is set to arrive in St. John's on Monday to join Hawkins for production on the film.

The house where Maud Lewis lived with her husband for decades is on display at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

Hawke is a four-time Oscar nominee and is known for films such as Training Day, Dead Poets Society and Boyhood.

Sally Hawkins, who was nominated for an Oscar for the recent Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine, has been cast as Lewis. 

Maudie is written by Stephenville native Sherry White, and will cover Lewis's life as a housekeeper-turned-artist.

The film will focus on the romance between Lewis and her husband Everett.

Hawke will be playing Everett Lewis in the film.

Originally, veteran character actor Sean Bean was supposed to take the role, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones star Sean Bean was originally supposed to be in Maudie, but delays in production caused him to drop out. (The Associated Press)