As it turns out, losing Rooney Mara wasn't so bad. Originally attached to the lead role but bowing out for younger, more age appropriate and recently cast "Skins" star Kaya Scodelario, "Tanner Hall" co-director Francesca Gregorini's "Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes" is getting a pretty nice boost of star power.
Jessica Biel is set to take another stab at a dramatic turn, coming on board the production that has a pretty twisted little story. The film will center on Emanuel, a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda's "baby," which is actually a very life-like doll. She goes along with the delusion while befriending the neighbor, who happens to be the spitting image of Emanuel's late mother. Biel will take on the role of the delusional Linda, who is reeling from the death of her child (hence the doll).
It's an interesting move for Biel, one that finds her still looking to prove herself as a dramatic actress in addtion to being a pretty face. But she'll have a steady hand in Gergorini who, with her feature debut, proved to be very good at wringing authentic performances out of her female cast, so we'll see what she does here. Filming kicks off next year. [Variety]