Just FYI: Hailee Steinfeld Is Starring In A Movie About a Teenage Assassin

It’s a slow news day, and the only real thing that’s come out is that Hayao Miyazaki is retiring, which is sad-making. So what I have for you now might not be big news, but if you’re anything like me it’ll put a smile on your face. Hailee Steinfeld is playing a teenage assassin in a movie called Barely Lethal. Her mentor? None other than Samuel L. Jackson.

Steinfeld (True Grit) will play Megan, who decides she’d rather not kill people for a living and fakes her own death so she can enroll in a suburban high school instead. The film’s been in development for a while, but I hadn’t heard of it, and dangit, the excellent Hailee Steinfeld pulling a Saoirse Ronan and playing a teenage assassin is a cool enough concept that I just couldn’t let it go without a mention. In addition to Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Alba has just joined the cast as Megan’s former handler and arch-nemesis.

Lest you think we’ll be looking at a surreal, indie character piece à la Violet & Daisy or a serious drama-actioner like Hanna, know that Barely Lethal is being directed by Kyle Newman (Fanboys) and co-executive produced by none other than Brett Ratner. Also: It’s called Barely Lethal. When THR says we’re looking at a “playful, high-velocity romp,” I believe it.

This could be bad. But it could be so, so good. (Hey, don’t look at me like that. Brett Ratner’s name has been attached to some things that don’t suck.) Pull through for me, Hailee Steinfeld. I believe in you.

(via: The A.V. Club)

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