September 21, 2007

Katharine McPhee Eyes More Onscreen Success; Considers Becoming 'Female Version Of John Mayer'

By Larry Caroll (MTV.com)

CULVER CITY, California - Katharine McPhee's first flirt with success came as she competed on American Idol and became the season five runner-up. Then she had it again when her self-titled debut opened at No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart earlier this year. And now, McPhee is hoping for even more Success as she reveals her plans for a flick of the same name.

"This is a whole new beginning," she grinned on Tuesday, speaking for the first time about a new movie script she hopes to begin soon. "I'm scheduled to shoot [that] movie in November."

The 23-year-old songstress is currently in L.A. finishing up work on I Know What Boys Like, an Anna Faris comedy that is aiming to hit theaters around the middle of 2008. In that flick, she'll make her movie debut as a pregnant hippie given a makeover by the Scary Movie star - but these days, McPhee already has her mind on the dramatic follow-up.

"It's darker, it's definitely hard to explain, but a specific style," she said, comparing Success to the output of iconic indie filmmakers like the Coen Brothers and Jim Jarmusch. "[The Success script] has great writing and definitely quirky characters, really well-developed characters."

Although little is known about the plot, McPhee said she is scheduled to shoot the flick alongside several other actors whose deals are being finalized. "I can't really give away too much, because I don't know who's attached to it yet," she shrugged. "They've made offers to the other big parts. I'm just really excited about it, because I think it's an interesting script."

"I play this sweet, nice girl who gets the attention of this guy," she revealed, adding that while her character might be a romantic, she isn't a femme fatale. "No, no. She's cool; she's the cool chick. And then there's this other female character, and [it becomes] very complicated. It's one of those interesting indie films."

Whether Success transforms McPhee into the next Parker Posey remains to be seen, but while she works on establishing her indie cred, the "Over It" singer is also brainstorming ideas for the follow-up to her successful debut album.

"I'll probably be making a much different record next time around," she reasoned. "Maybe more adult. I definitely have thoughts and ideas; maybe more like the female version of John Mayer ... I haven't put much thought into it, but the wheels are turning."