Hailee Steinfeld In Talks For Romeo & Juliet Film

She proved her dramatic chops in "True Grit," and now, just 15-years old, Hailee Steinfeld is getting a shot at one of the greatest dramatic stories of all time.

The Hollywood Reporter relays that Steinfeld is in talks to portray the lovelorn Capulet in a new production of "Romeo and Juliet," to be helmed by Italian director Carlo Carlie. The movie is going all out for authenticity, filming on location in Italy this summer.

Steinfeld has been highly sought after since her dazzling debut in the Coen Brothers' western, which scored her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She's attached to star in another classic tale, retold, taking on the role of Sleeping Beauty. She's also committed to play lead in a young adult book-to-film titled "Forgotten."

Steinfeld spoke about her character in "True Grit," in December with NPR, talking about how she liked playing a tough teen.

"I love the fact that, as much as she comes off as being this tough, witty, gritty girl, which she is, she's still a 14-year-old girl," Steinfeld said. "She still takes after her mother, who -- you know, the feminine side, but then she's being confronted by these men, and that's where her grit comes out."

For more, click over to The Hollywood Reporter.

Comments

[catcancook]

09:58 AM on 04/08/2011

I was so impressed with her in "True Grit", I had a feeling Hollywood would role out the red carpet (for her) and so happy that they have. Looking forward to more movies from this actress, she is so refreshing and talented. I also think she should have won the Oscar.

Very few actresses at 14 could have done what she did with that part and considering it was her lst movie is pretty amazing.

[EvieEve]

08:27 AM on 04/08/2011

Congrats to her for all her success

[Jazmo]

07:19 AM on 04/08/2011

After Baz Luhrmann I don't think I'll be seeing another R&J movie. Yeesh.

Hailee is a super talented young lady who should go far.

[SteveDenver]

05:07 AM on 04/08/2011

She was a knockout in True Grit. I look forward to her upcoming roles and am glad to see she's not falling into a spate of "Twoilet" roles.

[ProudMilVet]

12:51 AM on 04/08/2011

What a Cute & Beautiful Young Lady !

[tkondaks]

12:34 AM on 04/08/2011

I think she's really beautiful and perfect to play Juliet.

That's why I can't understand why there were TWO references in the "True Grit" script to Matty Ross being ugly. Indeed, my only complaint was that when Steinfeld was promoting the movie she didn't have her hair in braids as her character did.

[ibwilliamsi]

01:17 AM on 04/08/2011

The references to Matty's looks come from the book. It was typical of a period when all a woman owned or had to work with was her looks for a man to put her down by calling her "ugly". It was a sure way to make her doubt herself, but Matty had the grit to know it didn't matter.

[tkondaks]

12:28 AM on 04/08/2011

Okay. I've seen both "True Grit" and "The Fighter" and there is NO WAY that Melissa Leo gave a better performance than Hailee did. Hailee wuz robbed.

Indeed, because Hailee was in almost every scene of the movie she really should have been nominated for Actress in a Leading Role and not in the Supporting Actress category. And had she, she should have won that one, too!

[pattyrenee]

10:47 PM on 04/07/2011

Olivia Newton-John was 27 when she played a 17 year old in Grease! Hailee will be perfect! She does look young now! She's tall. Justin is short. It has to be a taller Romeo!

[EricBishop]

10:46 PM on 04/07/2011

Baz Luhrmann's recent version and the 1968 version aren't enough for the lobotomised film industry? Honestly, they're not even trying anymore.

[Ken Freedom]

11:47 PM on 04/07/2011

You think Hollywood is bad, look at the theatre scene. They've been staging productions of Romeo and Juliet for like six hundred years! Get some new material!

[EricBishop]

12:05 AM on 04/08/2011

Yeah...I flip my perspective when it comes to the theatre. I want classics.

[tkondaks]

12:31 AM on 04/08/2011

Who's not trying? I don't understand...

Two versions in over 40 years is really not a lot. What's the harm if someone else gives it a try? Do you have an opposition to a multi-million dollar corporation spending spending millions (and spreading their wealth around and giving employment) in making the new version?

You can always refuse to see it, you know. YOU don't have to spend your money to see it...

[Cheryl Fitzpatrick]

10:22 PM on 04/07/2011

She is a wonderful young actress, but no relation to Jerry Seinfeld, her name is completely different! Sheesh!

[canpete]

10:22 PM on 04/07/2011

great young actress, she stole the movie in true grit..........

[jparso3]

10:14 PM on 04/07/2011

Shakespeare has better plays like mid summer night's dream, taming of the shrew, hamlet, othello. Make a movie version of them instead. I know there have movies but I would rather see them then Romeo and Juliet again I would really like to see a movie made of mid summer's night dream. Romeo and juliet has been done to death

Wait a minute how about make Romeo and juliet come back to life as zombies that would be cool.

[invergarry]

11:28 PM on 04/07/2011

Check out the 1992 version of MND with Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer as Bottom and Titania. Stanley Tucci plays Puck alongside Rupert Everett's Oberon. Fabulous cast and wonderful performances--a favorite version of my favorite Shakespeare play. I don't think you can do better than the Kenneth Branagh/Laurence Fishburne Othello, and there are plenty of versions of Hamlet (Olivier, Mel Gibson, Branagh again) to keep you occupied. The Julia Stiles/Heath Ledger "Ten Things I Hate About You" is an updated Taming of the Shrew.

[Rock Jocelyn]

09:20 AM on 04/08/2011

Midsummer is ridiculous and Hamlet is almost as self-indulgent and infuriating as Catcher in the Rye.

You're obviously like 16 and haven't had to read King Lear yet, but trust me, it's way better. Also, taking famous characters and turning them into zombies is called "derivative junk," and is not actually a good literary device.

[jparso3]

06:56 PM on 04/08/2011

I am 27 by the way and yes i have read King Lear. Also, I love Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Reading the real novel before I read to made up one I tend to appreciate the real one even more.

Just cause you say it is "derivativ­e junk" does not mean people can enjoy it.

[jparso3]

07:00 PM on 04/08/2011

also if it gets kids to read the original then what is the harm?