What the Folk!

Jerusha Hess to Direct Romantic Comedy with 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer Producing (Exclusive)

The "Napoleon Dynamite" co-writer has lined up Keri Russell, J.J. Field and Bret McKenzie to star in the romantic comedy "Austenland," which will be Meyer's debut as a producer.

Keri Russell, JJ Field and Bret McKenzie will star in Austenland, an indie romantic comedy that is serving as the directorial debut of Jerusha Hess, who co-wrote Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre with her husband, helmer Jared Hess.
In a twist, the movie is also serving as the producing debut of Stephenie Meyer, author of the best-selling vampire books The Twilight Saga.

Meyer is producing and financing the pic though her Fickle Fish Films banner, which she runs with Meghan Hibbett. Moxie Pictures’ Gina Mingacci is also producing.

Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymur, Rupert Vansittart and James Callis make up the supporting cast of the romcom, which centers on a single thirty-something woman with a secret obsession with Mr. Darcy -- as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The obsession is ruining her love life because no real man can compare.

When she decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Jane Austen-crazed women, the woman's fantasy of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman becomes more real than she could have imagined.

The movie begins shooting this week in the UK. UTA is handling international sales.

Hess, who also co-wrote Gentlemen Broncos and is an exec producer on the Fox’s animated TV series version of Napoleon Dynamite, is repped by UTA.

Russell, repped by WME, recently wrapped indie feature Goats, which also stars David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga.
Fields, repped by ICM, next plays British superhero Union Jack in Captain America: The Next Avenger.
Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com
Twitter: @Borys_Kit

J.J. Feild, Keri Russel and Bret McKenzie are set to headline an indie romantic drama entitled Austenland, says a story at The Hollywood Reporter. The film will mark the directorial debut of Jershua Hess, best known as the co-writer Napoleon Dynamite alongside her husband, Jared Hess (who directed) and will be produced by "The Twilight Saga author Stephenie Meyer.

The film is based on a novel by Shannon Hale (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Hess) and is officially described on the author's site as follows:

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice", is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen—or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It’s all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Russell will play the part of Jane with Feild playing a Darcy-impersonator who works for the resort.

James Callis, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour and Rupert Vansittart are set to appear in the project as well, set to begin shooting immediately in the UK.

This story rings a bell for me, though! Like maybe I'd read about the book's premise or seen some sort or preview about it??

:D YES again! (Martin and Theodore are the same person) This is really good news. It's a meaty part with lots of secrets, make out sessions, elegant dancing and iirc even a shirtless scene! I won't say any more as I don't want to spoil anything but Martin is a very sexy guy and not at all dimwitted!!! I'm so pleased he's getting to play this role.