EXCLUSIVE: Sophia Lillis, last seen as Beverly Marsh in Warner Bros’ blockbuster picture, It, has been tapped as the title character in the studios’ Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase film adaptation, based on the popular Nancy Drew books. Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Kleeman, and Chip Diggins are on board to produce the project, which is expected to begin filming soon.

The Hidden Staircase, initially released in 1930 as the second volume in the Nancy Drew series, was written by Mildred Wirt Benson though it was published under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. WB made a film adaptation of this book in 1939 directed by William Clemens and starring Bonita Granville, who had toplined the previous Nancy Drew films.

Wendy Williams will serve as executive producer.

Lillis, who will next be seen in HBO’s eight-episode Amy Adams-starring drama series Sharp Objects, is repped by Abrams Artists, Untitled Entertainment, and attorney Ryan LeVine.