Writer/Director/Producer Deborah Kampmeier and Producer Troy Johanson of Full Moon Films announced today that Jena Malone will portray Southern gothic writer Carson McCullers in Lonely Hunter, the feature film based on her life story. A wild woman who transgressed gender laws and the color bar searching to understand her own mysterious passions, McCullers is the author of the classic novels "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and "The Member of the Wedding." Deborah Kampmeier will direct, as well as produce the film with Johanson and Blair Breard. Abigail Disney of Fork Films will executive produce. A shoot is scheduled for Spring 2012. Additional casting is under way.

An actress and musician, Jena Malone made her film debut in Bastard Out of Carolina. She garnered an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance for her performance. Since then she...