Jesse Plemons to Star in Kirsten Dunst's Directorial Debut 'The Bell Jar'

Based on the literary classic by Sylvia Plath, the project has been picked up by Cornerstone Films, who will kick off international sales at the AFM.

Jesse Plemons is set to appear in the directorial debut of his Fargo co-star — and off-screen girlfriend — Kirsten Dunst.

Announced Thursday, the rising actor (Breaking Bad, Bridge of Spies and Black Mass) has now joined The Bell Jar, to be directed by Dunst and also starring Dakota Fanning.

Based on Sylvia Plath's 1963 literary classic, the adaptation will see Dakota play the lead, Esther Greenwood, with Plemons as Lenny Shepherd. Dunst is co-writing alongside Nellie Kim, with the film scheduled to go into production in early 2017.

Priority Pictures optioned the remake rights from StudioCanal. Lizzie Friedman (The Stanford Prison Experiment, Ride) will produce with Fanning and Brittany Kahan from Echo Lake Entertainment (Truth, Nebraska) with Celine Rattray (American Honey, The Kids Are All Right) and Dunst as executive producers.

Cornerstone Films has acquired The Bell Jar for international sales and will be introducing the film to buyers at the American Film Market next month. UTA is handling the North American rights.

"The themes explored in The Bell Jar resonate as strongly in 2016 as they did in 1963, when the novel was first published," said Cornerstone's Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder. "Kirsten Dunst's compelling vision for the film has a vibrant authenticity that modern audiences will embrace, and we are proud to be part of the team bringing her directorial debut to the marketplace."