Whip It wasn't a great movie, but I dug its girl power spirit and enthusiasm from Drew Barrymore in her directorial debut. The star of that roller derby flick was Ellen Page, and her charming performance and comedic gifts went a long way in getting Barrymore's new venture off on the right foot. Maybe Page was taking notes, because for her first time behind the camera she's lined up an actress who should make the transition pretty smooth.
Page will has lined up Anna Faris to star in Miss Stevens, a comedy penned by Julia Hart. Faris will play a teacher whose personal life is in disarray, but rediscovers her own self-worth while chaperoning a group of students to a drama competition. So it's kind of like a feel-good Bad Teacher? Whatever, this sounds like it could be fun, and Faris is in desperate need of a film that puts her skills to good use. She's been floundering for far too long.
We'll be waiting awhile for it, though. Page will be filming X-men: Days of Future Past soon, and after that the gay rights drama, Freeheld. She'll be seen next in Brit Marling's eco-terrorist thriller, The East (review here). Faris has recently signed on for a TV comedy pilot, and will appear in the rom-com I Give It a Year. [Deadline]
