Dream Girl: Miley Cyrus is attached to star in an adaptation of Lisa McMann’s young adult paranormal thriller novel Wake. MTV Films and Paramount have acquired the rights to the project, which will be written by Christopher Landon (Disturbia). Wake, the first in a series of three New York Times best-selling novels, is about a 17-year-old girl named Janie who is afflicted with the “unwanted ability to become sucked into people’s dreams.†The studios have already grabbed the rights to the second two books - Fade and Gone - which are about Janie and her boyfriend Cabel’s investigations into the “perverse activities of teachers at their school.†Let’s hope none of them are into tweeting inappropriate photos. [Risky Business/HR]
Lautner Gets ‘Parents’: Lionsgate has cast Maria Bello and Jason Isaacs as the parents that raise Taylor Lautner in Abduction, in which Lautner sees his picture on a missing persons website and realizes Bello and Isaacs aren’t actually his real parents. As Movieline points out, based on what these actors look like, one would think Lautner might have figured this out a bit sooner. [Deadline]
Spotted: Chace Crawford has joined Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding, the “multi-generational†indie film directed by Bruce Beresford that stars Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener. Crawford will play a “war-protesting butcher†who romances Keener’s “politically active and intellectual daughter.†We’re not sure which is harder to imagine: Crawford playing someone who knows something about politics, or Crawford playing a butcher. [HR]
Madcap: Christian Slater, Gary Oldman and Dane Cook will star in Guns, Girls & Gambling, a “stylized crime thriller†from writer/director Michael Winnick (Shadow Puppets). The film follows a diverse group - everyone from Elvis impersonators to a frat boy to a “6-foot-tall blond assassin†- who are all after a priceless American Indian artifact which is stolen during a casino poker game. Slater will play a “normal guy†who drunkenly joins an Elvis impersonation contest (happens to the best of us…), Oldman is the contest’s “mega-contender,†and Cook will play a corrupt sheriff in the hunt for the prize. All fine, but we want to know who is going to play this 6-foot tall blonde assassin! [Heat Vision/HR]
What Goes Around…: Mandate has acquired Bullies, an original comedy project from Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down) which will be written by Yes Man team Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul. The comedy centers on two brothers who have bullied people their whole lives and finally get their comeuppance. Sounds like someone’s getting his wish fulfillment in movie form. [HR]
OMG: Douglas Booth will play the love interest for Miley Cyrus in LOL. The British actor will be making his American feature debut in the film, a remake of the 2009 French film Laughing Out Loud. Get your Binaca ready, Douglas: everyone knows what happened the last time Miley was cast opposite an international hottie. [Deadline]
The Dark Side: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are teaming up to develop Legends, an adaptation of the graphic novel about famous fairy tale characters like Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretel and Jack the Giant Killer in a dark fantasy setting. The story is set into motion when the remains of Pinocchio are found, and Red Riding Hood - a noted wolf hunter in this world - partners with Jack to figure out who is committing the murders. Also, Goldilocks is reimagined as a mercenary and Hansel & Gretel are psychic exterminators. Why not just hang the Tooth Fairy and brutally bludgeon the Easter Bunny while you’re at it, guys?! [Heat Vision/HR]