Universal and Working Title are reportedly working with Richard Curtis (Love, Actually) to get a script written for the project, the studio has not commented on how close the adaptation will be to the original story.
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Exec VP of Production Erik Baiers and creative executive Chloe Yellin will oversee the project for Universal.
Moretz is a talented young actress whose skills are sometimes misused as she’s so often typecast as pouty, rebellious and “edgy” characters.
It all means that this project is still coming together at Universal, while a few miles up the road Disney cranks out project after live-action project tied to its classic animated films. It’s unclear how closely Curtis’ screenplay will hew to Andersen’s original work.
Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce, while Liza Chasin and Amelia Granger will executive produce.
According to Variety, Moretz has been the frontrunner for quite a while, despite director Sofia Coppola’s purported disinterest in bringing her on board. Following Coppola’s exit, the studio still wanted Moretz for the role but did not want to make it official until a writer was attached to pen the final pass at the script.
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Moretz, who recently starred in a remake of Stephen King’s Carrie as well as the heartbreaking drama, If I Stay, will next appear in the Zac Efron-Seth Rogen sequel, Neighbors 2, and the post-apocalyptic thriller, The 5th Wave.
