Catherine Hardwicke has closed a deal to direct the “Miss Bala” remake for Sony, TheWrap has learned.
The film is an adaptation of Mexico’s 2011 Oscar submission for the Best Foreign Language Film.
The original film, directed by Gerardo Naranjo, centers on a woman named Laura who, along with her friend, enters a Miss Baja beauty competition. But during rehearsals, she witnesses a gang killing DEA agents and nightclub-goers and is then kidnapped by the gang and forced to work for them in the deadly drug war.
According to the studio the new film will follow a woman named Gloria Meyer, who finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game being played by the CIA, the DEA and a charismatic young crime boss after her friend Suzu goes missing in Tijuana, Mexico.
Kevin Misher of Misher Films and Pablo Cruz of Canana Films are producing the remake with Andy Berman executive producing.
Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer will write the adaptation.
Hardwicke has a reputation for directing films that feature strong female leads, including the 2015 Drew Barrymore-Toni Collette film “Miss You Already,” 2013’s “Plush,” 2011’s “Red Riding Hood” and the 2008 hit “Twilight.”
Hardwicke is also attached to the film “Stargirl” with Joey King. She is repped by CAA and Manage-ment.