By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Though she's going through divorce proceedings, neo-soul diva Jill Scott hasn't let that stop her from working her magic on the masses

Last week's sold-out Radio City Music Hall shows were just a prelude to a blitz of major exposure that will come her way when her third studio album and first big motion picture project (Tyler Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married') is released later this year.

Now there are reports circulating that the two-time Grammy Award winning Philadelphia native is set to star in a project with hunky actor Idris Elba.

According to EURweb.com, "she's been cast as the popular fiction character Madame Precious Ramotswe in an upcoming television show based on Alexander McCall Smith's series of South Africa-based novels surrounding the 'No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.'

The critically acclaimed book, published in 1998, tells the story of an enormously engaging Botswanian woman who is drawn to the detective profession to "help people with problems in their lives."

Soon after setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.

In an interview with 'London's Daily Mail,' Elba said filming will start shooting next month, and shared a tid-bit: "The bloke I play is a bad guy, he's a wheeler-dealer and Mma Ramotswe has to deal with him," he says.

The first book, which was re-released in mass market paperback in 2005 (via Anchor), spawned eight additional titles, which is sure to give Hollywood some great material to work off of.

The Weinstein Company is reportedly backing the venture, which previously drew interests from Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah to do a film on the subject.

"She was discovered by Anthony Minghella," McCall told British newspaper 'The Scotsman' of Scott being chosen for the role. Minghella directed the nine-time Oscar winning film 'The English Patient' in 1996.

"He did a big casting endeavor, and they spoke to a lot of people, and did several public calls in Botswana where they asked for traditionally built ladies to step forward.

"Many answered the call but none proved to be suitable, and they had several casting agents working on this," he continued. "They identified several likely Mma Ramotswes and alighted upon Jill Scott. Minghella was being extremely careful trying to find somebody with whom he could work.

"I knew all along that she was one of the front runners. The series plans to do about 40 days filming, with about 16 newly constructed buildings, and something like 182 people in Botswana."

Scott's previously acting roles includes the 2004 Showtime Network film 'Cavedweller' (which starred Kyra Sedgewick and Kevin Bacon) and a memorable story arc on the popular Mara Brock Akil-created sitcom 'Girlfriends.'

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