Reese Witherspoon 'Wild' Movie Casting; Actress to Star in Fox Searchlight Adaptation
Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon will star in Wild, an adaptation to Cheryl Strayed's New York Times best-selling book.
Fox Searchlight acquired the rights to distribute the adaptation of Strayed's memoir and screenwriter Nick Hornby, who was Oscar nominated for his adaptation of An Education, agreed to write the script for the film.
The movie will be about Strayed's physical and emotional journey hiking alone 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail - from California to Washington State - following her divorce and mother's death.
"We have long been huge fans of this visceral, inspirational and moving personal story with such a strong female perspective," Searchlight Presidents Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley said in a statement.
The film will be produced by Witherspoon's and partner Bruna Papandrea's production company, Pacific Standard, in conjunction with River Road Entertainment.
"We are so excited to be working with Fox Searchlight to bring Wild to the screen," Witherspoon said. "It is an extraordinary company that continually strives to bring original, inspirational films to the marketplace. We are thrilled to collaborate with them on Wild."
Even though a director has not yet been named, production for the film is set to begin late fall.
In addition to Wild, the 37-year-old actress has six upcoming projects occurring in 2014, including Passengers with Keanu Reeves. Witherspoon will next appear on the big screen in October when Devil's Knot is released. The film also stars Stephen Moyer and Colin Firth.
