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Newcomer Samara Weaving has landed the lead role in McG‘s next pic “The Babysitter” at New Line, sources tell Variety.
McG is directing from a spec script by Brian Duffield which New Line won in a bidding war this summer.
The film follows a 12-year-old boy and his babysitter on a night when things take an unexpected turn for the worst. McG was originally set to produce, but decided to take on directing as well to realize his vision for the script.
Wonderland is co-financing through a partnership with Zack Schiller of Boies/Schiller Film Group. Schiller will serve as executive producer along with James McGough.
McG and Mary Viola will also produce. Duffield will exec produce along with Wonderland’s newly promoted vice president Steven Bello, who brought the project to the company.
Richard Brener, Walter Hamada and Dave Neustadter will oversee.
The part marks Weaving’s first lead role, having previously landed smaller parts in Paramount’s “Monster Trucks” and “Bad Girl.” Weaving comes from the Australian TV show “Home and Away,” a soap that has featured several breakout actors, with such talent as the Hemsworth brothers and Heath Ledger finding their first big breaks on the show.
She also has a starring role opposite Bruce Campbell in Starz’s upcoming “Evil Dead” sequel series “Ash vs. Evil Dead.”
Weaving is repped by CAA, Shanahan Management and Untitled Entertainment.
