While Diablo Cody‘s distinct voice has provided the foundation for a diverse array of projects ranging from “Juno” to “The United States Of Tara” to the forthcoming “Evil Dead” reboot, she is going to be taking her next script to the screen herself with “Lamb Of God.”
First announced last month, and marking Cody’s directorial debut, “Lamb Of God” involves a young Christian girl, the titular Lamb, who survives a plane crash, but is left with horrific burns. With her faith gone, she travels to Las Vegas in order to experience the more sinful side of life, and befriends Loray, an African-American craps dealer, and William, a bartender. Russell Brand had been offered with role of William, with “Footloose” star Julianne Hough in contention for the lead role. Well, looks like Cody got who she wanted as both Brand and Hough — who also happen to be co-stars in the forthcoming musical “Rock Of Ages” — have officially joined the project.
The film will roll next spring, and while Cody called it on her blog “a nice Christmas story,” we’re guessing a holiday 2012 release might be too tight a frame to knock it out, though anything can happen. Mandate Pictures are producing and the international rights will be up for grabs at AFM in November. But if you need more Cody sooner, Jason Reitman‘s “Young Adult” hits theaters on December 16th. [Deadline]