Elle Fanning is in talks to star in Awesomeness Films’ adaptation of “Beware That Girl,” Teresa Toten’s critically acclaimed YA novel, Deadline reports. The psychological thriller has earned comparisons to “Gone Girl” and “The Girl on the Train” since it was released earlier this year. From the sounds of the plot summary, “Beware That Girl” may also appeal to fans of “Gossip Girl” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”
The film will be “set against the backdrop of an elite Manhattan private school where two girls befriend, use, and manipulate each other in a game of cat and mouse,” Deadline writes. “Kate is a scholarship student who survives by lying her way into friendships with wealthy classmates. Olivia is the ‘it’ girl of the Upper East Side with a dark and mysterious past. When a charming and handsome new faculty member joins their school, the girls are forced to bring their secrets to light.”
Nicki Cortese, Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, and Brian Duffield are producing.
Fanning most recently appeared in “The Neon Demon.” Her next film, “20th Century Women,” is getting lots of awards buzz, and hits theaters December 25. The “Maleficent” actress has many films lined up, including Sofia Coppola’s “The Beguiled,” Reed Morano’s “I Think We’re Alone Now,” Mélanie Laurent’s “Galveston,” and Haifaa Al-Mansour’s “A Storm in the Stars.” It’s great to see Fanning collaborating with so many women directors — she’s also worked with Sally Potter (“Ginger & Rosa”) and Gabby Dellal (“About Ray”).
The three-time Critics Choice Award nominee has spoken out about how “there are still a lot of movies where women are dependent on the guy. We don’t always need a love interest,” she said. “We can stand on our own. There are so many movies where guys are alone, doing their own thing, so I don’t see why we can’t have that too.”
