Jennifer Lawrence is attached to play war photographer Lynsey Addario in “It’s What I Do,” a romantic drama that her fellow Oscar winner Steven Spielberg will direct for Warner Bros., which just won a heated auction for the upcoming book, multiple individuals familiar with the project have told TheWrap.
The film is based on Addario’s forthcoming memoir “It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War,” which was recently excerpted in the New York Times Magazine.
Andrew Lazar is set to produce the movie. He recently produced the Warner Bros. hit “American Sniper,” which Spielberg was originally attached to direct. Mad Chance executive Wynn Wygal brought the book into Lazar’s production company.
Warner Bros. executives Racheline Benveniste and Julia Spiro will oversee the project for the studio.
Several top actresses reportedly chased the material, including Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman.
As with all things Spielberg, he’s onboard to direct until he’s not, but with Lawrence involved, expect him to clear room in his busy schedule, which also includes the PTSD drama “Thank You For Your Service,” adapted by “Sniper” scribe Jason Hall.
Spielberg’s next film, an untitled Cold War thriller starring Tom Hanks, will debut this fall, and he’s currently filming “The BFG” with Mark Rylance.
Lawrence is currently filming David O. Russell’s “Joy” and has Sony’s “Passengers” and Fox’s “The Dive” on her docket.
CAA represents Spielberg and Lawrence.
The news was first reported by Deadline.