"Nick & Norah" Director Gets Tapped for "Runaways" Film

Brian K. Vaughan's award winning comic book series The Runaways has been rumored for quite some time to be in development for a live-action adaptation. There was some confusion on the state of the film with the release of the 2010 biopic about the 70's band with the same name, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. But now, the internets are abuzz with news that the post-post-modern superhero squad of misfits is getting a top notch director, Peter Sollett.

Many people know of Sollett's work through the 2008 film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist which featured perennial adorkable nerd Peter Cera and Kat Dennings in a series of misadventurous events which leads to a surprisingly touching teen romance. What's doubly intriguing for queer fans of Runaways is that Sollett seems very open to non-sensationalist, matter-of-fact presentation of queerness on film. In Nick and Norah..., Nick is the guitarist for a gay punk band, and his bandmates are featured prominently in the film in an understated but undoubtedly queer manner.

This bodes well for resident glowing alien lesbian Karolina Dean of the Runaways, who struggled with her attraction to fellow Runaway, Nico Minoru. If the film's successful enough, we might even get some Karolina/Xavin action in a sequel! For a while, Runaways was one of the queerest books on the shelves with an out lesbian and her gender fluid/trans girlfriend.

Many in the press have dubbed Runaways "The Breakfast Club with superpowers." I hope that it will be so much more than another teen angst movie with a superhero flair. The charm of Runaways is how it deconstructed the superhero paradigm. No costumes, no codenames, no all-knowing father figure leader (take that Zordon!), not even plucky catch phrases! They're just kids trying to find their own way in a super powered world.

That aside, here's my casting wishlist for Runaways after the jump:

Nico: Jenna Ushkowitz - Runaways would be a perfect transition for the GLEE star to break out of her bubblegum persona and take on a darker side. Plus, we already know she can rock dark eye shadow and punk gear

Molly: Chloe Moretz - she was adorably precocious in 500 Days of Summer and looks to be unbelievably kick ass in Kick-Ass. She'd be a great Molly!

Gert: Ellen Page (but with about 30 more pounds) - Ellen is a little on the slight side to play a body conscious big-girl Gert. But she's got the perfect balance of emotional approachability with that wonderfully sarcastic demeanor!

Karolina: Olivia Thirlby - She's got a young Anne Hathaway look, was great in Juno as best friend leah.

Chase: Corey Monteith - while a little beefier than Chase is, I think Corey's got that jock with a heart of gold thing down pat.

Alex: Elijah Kelley - He's totally got the charm needed for Alex to make the audience fall in love with him, which'll make the big reveal all the more heart-wrenching.