Back in March, Juno writer Diablo Cody sold her script Young Adult to Mandate Pictures and Mr Mudd, the companies who’d helped get 2007 Oscar-winning hit to the big screen. Now it seems the whole thing could be a massive Juno reunion, as Deadline reports that Jason Reitman is being lined up to direct the movie, with the hope it will go in front of the cameras in November.
It also appears the movie has got a star, in the form of Charlize Theron. She will play ‘a ghostwriter of young adult novels who plots to reclaim her identity. Her campaign involves going back and rekindling a relationship with her high school boyfriend – who’s freshly married, is a new father, and wants no part of her. While she works on her plan, the ghostwriter reengages with high school acquaintances and their experiences in trying to fulfill all those high school hopes and dreams that often get crushed by the realities of life.’
It’s a fairly generic plot, but will hopefully be enlivened by Cody’s trademark witty dialogue. The script has been described by those who’s seen it as the writer’s most mature effort yet, with a somewhat unlikable lead character who’s never let off the hook, as the film dissects her narcissism and insecurities. While many directors would be nervous of such a character, Reitman is the perfect person to allow her to breath, so hopefully everything will come together on this one.