- The Orchard has acquired all North American rights to Julia Hart’s directorial debut "Miss Stevens", starring Lily Rabe in the title role, Variety reports.
Rabe ("American Horror Story") won the SXSW Best Actress Special Jury Prize for this role as a teacher who’s stuck at a crossroads in her personal life as she chaperones three of her students on a weekend trip to a drama competition.
Hart directed "Miss Stevens" from a script she wrote with Jordan Horowitz. Timotheé Chalamet ("Interstellar"), Lili Reinhart ("The Kings of Summer"), YouTube phenomenon Anthony Quintal, Oscar Nuñez and Rob Huebel also star.
Producers are Alex Turtletaub, Michael B. Clark, Horowitz and Gary Gilbert. The film is a Beachside presentation of a Beachside and Gilbert Films Production in association with Original Headquarters.
Justin Chang said in his SXSW review for Variety: "Julia Hart’s directing debut is distinguished by a smartly layered performance from Lily Rabe ("American Horror Story"), fully persuasive as a designated authority figure still a few steps away from embracing full adulthood."
The Orchard plans a fall release for "Miss Stevens." The deal was negotiated by ICM Partners and WME Global on behalf of the filmmakers.
