Taylor Schilling has grabbed a female lead role opposite Zac Efron in The Lucky One, THR says. To nab the highly sought role, she has beaten out other high profile actresses, including as Abbie Cornish and Katie Cassidy, who were also in the running.

The film, based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same title, follows Efron’s character of a soldier who has survived three tours of duty in Iraq and attributes his good luck to a photograph he carried of a woman, portrayed by Schilling, whom he doesn’t even know. When he returns to the States, he will seek out the girl and later they develop a relationship.

What a pity – Abbie and Michael Fassbender have dropped out of Wuthering Heights and the film is being made “younger” with Gemma Arterton and Ed Westwick. I was really looking forward to this film.

Gemma Arterton and Ed Westwick will play Cathy and Heathcliff in Ecosse Films’ adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.

Peter Webber will direct the pic after original helmer John Maybury ankled.

Project has also seen a number of cast changes. Natalie Portman was originally tapped to play the role of Cathy. Scheduling conflicts saw her exit the project before being replaced by Abbie Cornish. Arterton will now play the iconic romantic role after producers opted to go younger with the pic.

Ecosse Films’ Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae will produce the film with HanWay Films handling the international sales.

Source: Variety