Ashley Benson joins SB!

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This high profile indie written and directed by Harmony Korine now sounds even more like the ultimate dream project targeted to tween/teen gals and guys. Already cast are Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens and now Deadline has learned Pretty Little Liars co-star Ashley Benson just booked a role. But two weeks ago Emma Roberts fell out of the movie. So with a February 12 starting date in Florida, Spring Breakers is still looking for its fourth girl. Starring James Franco, the logline describes the pic as four gorgeous college-age girls rob a fast food restaurant in order to afford a spring break trip to Florida. When they’re arrested, they meet up with a drug and arms dealer (Franco) who entices them to kill his arch rival.

Emma Roberts, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudges join James Franco in 'Spring Breakers'?

Harmony Korine has set his next project with "Spring Breakers," the story of four college girls who rob a restaurant to afford their trip to the beach with James Franco attached and Emma Roberts, Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez in talks to star.
Should Hudgens' and Gomez's deals close, the risque, avant garde material for which Korine is known would be a change of pace from the safe Disney Channel fare that launched them to stardom. It'll also be a dark turn for Franco, who's coming off Disney's "Oz: The Great and Powerful."

Korine, whose last film was "Trash Humpers," is best known for scripting Larry Clark's "Kids," as well as both writing and directing "Gummo" and "Mister Lonely." He'll both write and direct "Spring Breakers."

Roberts would play a Southern brunette who feeds off danger, while Gomez would play a religious girl who isn't a thrill-seeker like the rest of the group, which includes Hudgens. Franco will co-star as Alien, a rapping drug and arms dealer who bails them out of jail and entices them to kill his arch-rival.

MJZ prexy David Zander will produce with Chris Hanley of MUSE Prods., as well as Charles-Marie Anthonioz ("Trash Humpers") and Jordan Gertner. Production will take place during spring break in Florida.

Franco, who most recently toplined "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," will soon be seen in a trio of indies -- "Maladies" with Catherine Keener, "The Stare" with Winona Ryder and "Cherry" with Heather Graham. Franco, who's currently prepping several passion projects as a multi-hyphenate, is also expected to co-star in Seth Rogen's directorial debut "The Apocalypse."

Roberts, who's coming off a starring turn in "Scream 4," recently wrapped a supporting role in Lee Toland Krieger's indie dramedy "Celeste and Jesse Forever."

Hudgens, who recently starred in "Sucker Punch" and "Beastly," is currently filming the serial killer thriller "Frozen Ground" with John Cusack and Nicolas Cage. Thesp next stars in New Line's "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" and Ron Krauss' indie "Gimme Shelter."

Coming off "Monte Carlo," Gomez is attached to star in "Hot Mess", "Th1een R3asons Why" and will soon be seen in Disney's "The Muppets."

CAA packaged the project and will rep its domestic distribution rights, as the powerhouse agency reps Korine, Franco, Roberts, Hudgens and Gomez. Franco, Roberts and Hudgens are respectively managed by Miles Levy of James/Levy Management, David Sweeney of Sweeney Entertainment and Evan Hainey of Untitled Entertainment. Hudgens and Gomez are also repped by attorney Stephen Espinoza.


SOURCE: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118045407