READY PLAYER ONE Nabs Olivia Cooke For Female Lead

Olivia Cooke, one of the breakout stars of Sundance hit ‘Me And Earl And The Dying Girl,’ has landed a lead roles in the Steven Spielberg-directed adaptation of ‘Ready Player One,’ according to THR.

Based on the cult favourite book by Ernest Cline, the story is set in a virtual reality universe called OASIS, in which a teenager by the name of Wade Watts finds himself competing in a treasure hunt against ruthless foes after the game’s founder dies and offers his fortune as the grand prize.

Cooke will take on the role of  Wade’s love interest and competitor, a Canadian blogger named Samantha Evelyn Cook, whose name in the virtual world is Art3mis.

In addition to directing, Spielberg will serve as producer alongside Donald De Line, Dan Farah and Kristie Macosko Krieger. Zak Penn (‘X-Men: Last Stand,’ ‘Marvel’s Avengers Assemble’) is providing the script.

Cooke’s previous credits include ‘Ouija,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘The Quiet Ones,’ and the underrated sci-fi ‘The Signal.’

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL is in cinemas now.