Jesse Peretz to helm Judd Apatow-produced movie 'Juliet, Naked'

LOS ANGELES, May 8 (UPI) -- Jesse Peretz has signed on to direct Juliet, Naked, a film based on the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby.

The script was written by Tamara Jenkins and Jim Taylor. The project is being produced by Judd Apatow, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, Barry Mendel and Jeffrey Soros.

Simon Horsman is serving as an executive producer on the movie, which tells the story of Annie, "the long-suffering girlfriend of Duncan, and her unlikely transatlantic romance with once revered, now faded, singer-songwriter, Tucker Crowe, who also happens to be the subject of Duncan's musical obsession."

No casting has been announced yet.

"I'm thrilled to extend my long collaboration with Jesse to this film," Apatow, who has worked with Peretz on HBO's Girls, said in a statement. "He's a master of bringing complicated characters to life with empathy and humor, and he's just the perfect director to tell Nick Hornby's great story."

Hornby's books High Fidelity, About a Boy and Fever Pitch have been adapted as successful films.

Peretz also has previously directed the movies The Ex and Our Idiot Brother.