Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are circling key parts in upcoming thriller A Simple Favor.
Ghostbusters director Paul Feig is set to direct the movie, which will be based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Darcey Bell, according to The Tracking Board.
Lionsgate is currently in negotiations to take over the project from Fox 2000, with Feig and Jessie Henderson lined up to produce.
A Simple Favor was published by HarperCollins in March (17) and is described as a chilling thriller in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.
The narrative follows a single mother named Stephanie whose life is turned upside down when her best friend Emily vanishes. While Stephanie doubts Emily would ever leave her five-year-old son Nicky, she is soon dragged into a dark world filled with psychological suspense, betrayals and reversals.
Should Anna and Blake sign on to take lead roles in the movie, production will start in August.
Though the project may mean Feig has to resign from his directing duties from comedy Late Night, which is set to star Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson, and begin shooting in the fall.
A Simple Favor will also mark a departure for Feig, as since making his debut in 2006 with Unaccompanied Minors, he has mostly focused on the female-focused comedies such as The Heat, Spy and Bridesmaids. The filmmaker also recently produced Amy Schumer’s adventure-comedy Snatched and the forthcoming film Untouchable.
Meanwhile, Anna has recently appeared onscreen in The Accountant and Table 19, and will next be seen in the third installment of the Pitch Perfect franchise which is due for release in December (17).
And Blake has won acclaim for her roles in The Shallows and Cafe Society, and will soon be promoting her indie film All I See Is You.
