Hayden Panettiere Joins 'Daydream Nation'
Posted Feb 7th 2008 11:02AM by
Monika Bartyzel

In between her busy whale-saving schedule and wondering if she will ever get to be a superhero again with all of this darned strike business,
Variety reports that
Hayden Panettiere has signed on to star in a new teen comedy called
Daydream Nation. The script was penned by
Michael Goldbach, who collaborated with Don McKellar in the Canadian comedy
Childstar, and he'll make this his directorial debut.
Negotiating to join Panettiere is
Kieran Culkin, brother of Macauley,
Father of the Bride alum, and lead in my beloved
Igby Goes Down. Now get ready for this super-revealing description -- he'll "play opposite Panettiere as her oblivious boyfriend." Gee, I'm glad that's cleared up. Luckily,
THR had a little more information to give: "The producers are hoping to reinvent the coming-of-age story for the 21st century, calling the film an intellectual comedy a la
Juno and
Election." Hayden's role is described there as "acerbic," so between that and the
Election reference, I imagine that we'll get a modern Tracy Flick for this puppy. And, I hope,
a Sonic Youth soundtrack?
Now, the challenge will be navigating the next possible strike (actors), and her schedule on
Heroes. The producers are hoping to get production going this spring or summer. In the mean time, I ask you -- Can Panettiere follow in the footsteps of Reese Witherspoon and Ellen Page?