AceShowbiz - British pop star Pixie Lott has landed her first major movie role - replacing Britney Spears in "Sweet Baby Jesus", a modern retelling of the Nativity story. The "Toxic" hitmaker had been due to play the Virgin Mary in the new film, but walked away from the role with producers citing pressure from her family as her reason for quitting the project.

Movie bosses have now cast 19-year-old Brit Lott in the role, opposite Sam Rockwell, Bette Midler and Kim Cattrall, who have all been linked to parts in the comedy, according to Deadline.com.

Garfield director Peter Hewitt will helm the movie, which is due to begin filming in Maryland and Ireland later this year. Lott will make her acting debut in upcoming TV film "Fred: The Movie", which will debut on the U.K.'s Nickelodeon channel in August this year.