Beyonce Knowles is to play music legend Etta James in a new film about blues label Chess Records.

Knowles, who will also act as executive producer on Cadillac Records, will join Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Cedric The Entertainer and Tammy Blanchard in the project.

Brody will play label founder Leonard Chess, while Wright will portray blues great Muddy Waters and Cedric The Entertainer Willie Dixon.

Knowles will also record four songs for the film's soundtrack, which will be released through her manager/father's label Music World Entertainment.

The singer/actress will donate a portion of her fees for the film to recovering addicts through her family's charity, the Survivor Foundation, according to Billboard.com.