Reese Witherspoon has signed on to star in Wild, Fox Searchlight’s adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s bestseller. Oscar-nominated writer Nick Honrby is writing the screenplay.
According to Deadline, Witherspoon, 37, will star in the project, which is based on Strayed’s solo 1,000-mile Pacific Coast Trail walk after her marriage crumbles and her mother dies. Strayed was 26 when she made the journey. The book was an Oprah Book selection. Production will kick off in the fall after Fox Searchlight and the producers pick a director.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea are producing under her Pacific Standard banner, which first optioned the book. River Road Entertainment’s Bill Pohlad is co-producing.
“We are so excited to be working with Fox Searchlight to bring Wild to the screen. It is an extraordinary company that continually strives to bring original, inspirational films to the marketplace,” Witherspoon said in a statement.
Hornby was nominated for an OScar for his 2009 screenplay An Education. His other credits include High Fidelity, About A Boy and Fever Pitch.
Witherspoon was recently seen in Mud and she just finished Devil’s Knot.
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