With The Hunger Games wrapping up this year and the Divergent films rumbling along, the hunt continues for the new big young adult adaptation franchise. Catfish **/ Paranormal Activity 4 collaborators Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost signed on to Nerve last year and have at last rounded up Emma Roberts and Dave Franco to star.
Written by Jeanne Ryan, the book follows high school senior Vee (Roberts), a girl more used to lingering on the edges of her class, never catching the eye of the popular set. To try to break out of her rut, she joins a global online game built around a provocative, amped-up version of truth or dare, which features an audience of “watchers” who vote for their favourites and comment on what’s going on.
Soon, Vee becomes a sensation, advancing higher and higher, until she discovers that the game at the upper levels becomes something quire different. And because it would be boring if that just involved water balloons or admitting you’ve got a crush on a classmate, that means life-threatening circumstances...
The script comes from American Horror Story TV writer Jessica Sharzer, which means it will have another connection to Roberts, since she’s worked on the last few seasons of the anthology show. She’ll be seen on the big screen in the drama I** Am Michael** and romantic comedy drama Ashby. Franco, meanwhile, appeared in last year’s **Bad Neighbor****s **and is busy shooting illusionist heist caper sequel Now You See Me: The Second Act.