Kirsten Dunst Opens THE BELL JAR for Directorial Debut

Kirsten Dunst, who last graced our screens with the Jeff Nichols-directed ‘Midnight Special,’ has selected an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s iconic 1963 novel ‘The Bell Jar’ for her directorial debut.

Set in the 1950s, ‘The Bell Jar’ tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a young woman who takes an internship at a magazine in New York City for the summer, her return home to New England, and her subsequent psychological breakdown.

Dunst has adapted the script with Nellie Kim, and Deadline reports that Dakota Fanning (‘American Pastoral,’ ‘Effie Gray’) will take on the role of Greenwood.

Producers on the indie adaptation include Lizzie Friedman, Karen Lauder and Greg Little of Priority Pictures, Fanning and Echo Lake Entertainment’s Brittany Kahan. Celine Rattray.

A 1979 movie adaptation of the book was directed by Larry Peerce and starred Marilyn Hassett.