Entertainment

Score one for Kristen Stewart: according to the latest Hollywood rumor, she's got an enormously welcome distraction from The Cheating Scandal That Would Not Die, and it comes in the form of a coveted role in in an upcoming adaptation of William Styron's Lie Down in Darkness. If this is true, not only has Stewart reportedly landed a major "take me seriously as an actress" gig -- she even beat out Jennifer Lawrence for the part.

Okay, it was maybe less about beating Lawrence and more about Lawrence being busy next year with Catching Fire and a new X-Men film, but still. This movie sounds like a HUGE deal, and if she can pull off the role -- i.e., manage to show some actual emotion in the role, and, you know, keep her tongue out of the director's mouth -- who knows what this could do for her career.

Oscar winner Kristen Stewart? Hey, stranger things have happened.

According to Vulture, Stewart will be playing Peyton Loftis in Lie Down in Darkness:

As part of a dysfunctional and disintegrating family, Peyton is constantly compared to her crippled sister, Maudie, and her intense physical beauty makes her the object of her frigid mother’s jealous hatred and the target of her father’s incestuous, alcoholic lust.

So ... not exactly a popcorn flick, then. Gotcha.

Back in 2010, Jennifer Lawrence said she was completely obsessed with the part and the script, which was penned by Crazy Heart writer/director Scott Cooper:

I’m trying to write the director of Lie Down in Darkness a letter to convince him that I should be in his movie. I’ll chase him if I have to. I’ll sit outside his house. I’m beside myself over that script. When I get like that, anything’s possible.

(Lawrence also said of the role, "I have this feeling of protectiveness over characters I want to play. I worry about them—if someone else gets the part, I’m afraid they won’t do it right" -- which makes me REALLY wonder what she thinks of Kristen Stewart landing the job.)

Production on Lie Down in Darkness is slated to begin next year, but it's worth noting that no actual casting announcements have been made yet. I suppose it's possible this is just a rumor, sort of like the OMFG ROBERT PATTINSON IS GOING TO BE IN CATCHING FIRE!! business that swept the Internet a while back, but for her sake I hope it's true.

Not that I'm fully confident in her ability to rock the part -- I'm still not 100 percent convinced of her acting skills. Ahem:

But if nothing else, this role should set the record straight. Either she's a great actress who's had to dumb it down for a bunch of sucky roles to date, or ... you know, the other thing. Plus, I'm all in favor of the Universe throwing her a bone right about now. (As in metaphorical, not a married man's penis.)

What's your take on Kristen Stewart landing this plum acting gig? Do you think she'll do well in the role?

Image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr