(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Madonna's new film W.E. will be released in the heart of the Oscar season, The Weinstein Company has announced.

The film which Madonna directed, produced and co-wrote tells the story of two romances and will hit screens in December.

One is between Britain's King Edward VIII and American Wallis Simpson which details their controversial relationship.

This historic story toggles between a more contemporary tale of a modern woman called Wally and her obsession with the midcentury British romance.

The cast includes Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough, James D'Arcy and Oscar Isaac.

"Madonna beautifully interweaves past and present in W.E. It's a very smart film, and a stunning feature directorial debut," Harvey Weinstein said in a statement.

"I'm incredibly excited about this movie and I wanted to give it a prominent release date."

Madonna co-wrote the film with her Truth or Dare collaborator Alek Keshishian.

The film will then be given a wider release in midJanuary 2012.

Meanwhile, Madonna has spoken of her plans to open an orphanage in Malawi.

The superstar has two adopted children from the African country, David and Mercy, and wants to pay tribute to their country of birth by continuing to help the disadvantaged children there.

"My short-term goals are to build an orphan care center that will service and reach at least 1,000 children and I'm also actively involved in funding several orphanages that already exist," Madonna revealed in an interview for documentary, American Revolutionaries: The Hitmakers.

Her renewed effort comes on the back of controversy earlier this year with an organisation she was associated with being slammed for alleged mismanagement of affairs.

Madonna was in the process of building a $15 million school to educate 400 girls but those plans collapsed earlier this year. (C) Cover Media