Cholodenko and Hardwicke Book New Projects

There are reports that two high profile female directors -- Lisa Cholodenko and Catherine Hardwicke -- are circling their next projects.

According to Deadline, Hardwicke will helm the Tristine Skyler script of The Bitch Posse. The book is written by Martha O'Connor. Here's the description:

The book focuses on three friends, Cherry, Amy and Rennie, high school seniors who come from troubled homes and form a dangerous alliance called the Bitch Posse. Something occurs that rips apart the friendship and haunts them into adulthood. The book switches back and forth from those high school years to their adult lives where one is in a mental institution, the other is a promiscuous writer and the third suffers through a loveless marriage.

Film will be produced by Miranda Bailey and Matthew Leutwyler as well as Virginia Madsen and Karly Meola who run my favorite titled production company - Title IX.

And Variety reports that Lisa Cholodenko will depart from her comfort zone and will take on the children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Story follows a young boy who endures a frustrating day that begins with him waking up to find gum in his hair and ends with him threatening to move to Australia.

The book was published in 1972 by Judith Viorst and is being adapted by Rob Lieber with 20th Century Fox Financing.

This film is clearly a departure for Cholodenko. Known for adult and lesbian films -- High Art, Laurel Canyon and the Oscar nominated, The Kids Are All Right -- a live action kids film seems a strange choice for Cholodenko. But a big paycheck from a studio after many years of struggling to get her films made is probably a welcome relief. But a kids film? Never expected it.

Cholodenko in talks for Fox's 'Alexander' (Variety)

'Twilight' Helmer Catherine Hardwicke Takes On 'The Bitch Posse' (Deadline)