Superstar Britney Spears has had to back out of taking on the lead role in the upcoming comedy 'Sweet Baby Jesus' because she had to play the Virgin Mary.

The movie centres around a teenage girl who falls pregnant and has no idea who the father of the unborn baby is.

Philippe Rebboah, the film's producer revealed to The Daily Star Sunday: "Britney read the script and really liked it. She really wanted to play the role of Mary.

"But people were against it and she was pressured. The she ran into trouble with her family so we decided the timing wasn't right.

"Britney was touched by the script, so we are in talks about her writing and performing the closing number."

The movie will star Pierce Brosnan's son Sean and comedian Tom Green.