September 18, 2008

Miley Cyrus Gets A Nicholas Sparks Novel And Movie Tailor-Made For Her

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

Some directors have an actor in mind when they cast a movie or adapt a novel. But when you're Miley Cyrus, famous authors write a novel and movie script for you. That's what Nicholas Sparks, best-selling author of The Notebook, is working on at the moment, according to Variety.

The 15-year-old Hannah Montana star will headline the untitled film, which will be produced by Disney-based Hairspray director Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gigbot. Gigbot told Variety that the project was inspired by a meeting with Cyrus about how to help her transition into more adult roles. Cyrus cited Mandy Moore's 2002 drama A Walk to Remember - also written by Sparks - as an example of how she would like to make the transition away from her teen-pop persona. As with Moore's movie, this one would feature Cyrus acting, but not singing.

The author responded with a premise for a novel about family and romance. Details about the story are still being kept a secret, but Sparks hopes to release the book next fall.

"This is similar to the way it's gone with movies based on my novels; it's just out of order," Sparks said. "Certain opportunities garner your interest, and this was one of those." Sparks said Cyrus and her family were "very familiar with the work I've done in the past. That played a role in this project coming together."

In addition to The Notebook and A Walk to Remember, Sparks' novel Message in a Bottle was turned into a film, and the adaptation of his book Nights in Rodanthe, starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, opens next week. Dear John, another book-turned-movie starring Channing Tatum, is slated to go into production soon.