Dakota Fanning Joins 'The Runaways' and 'New Moon'

Well look who's all grown up. It seems like just yesterday that little Dakota Fanning was winning the world over as precocious little girl, and then horrifying us as a tween rape victim. But now she just might be one of the biggest icons in girl-power history. Variety reports that Fanning is currently in negotiations to star in The Runaways, the story of the all-girl proto-punk band of the same name. Fanning is in talks to play Runaway's lead singer, Cherie Currie, alongside Kristen Stewart (as Joan Jett). But that's not all, because at the bottom of the same notice, Variety also confirmed that the gal is booked for the Twilight sequel, New Moon later this year, with Fanning at her blood-thirsty best.

But back to Runaways, because lord knows there will be plenty of time to dissect New Moon between now and November, 2009. Cherie Currie was a 15-year-old (the same age as Fanning) dynamo who made her musical debut with the Runaways, and despite her young age was known for her rough and ready singing style. After leaving the group, she recorded some solo albums and even tried her hand at acting, but like so many before her, Currie became caught up in drugs and a hard-partying lifestyle -- but luckily for her, she managed to sort herself out before becoming another punk casualty. Her book, Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story, served as the source material for the film and was adapted by The Runaways director, Floria Sigismondi.

The Runaways is scheduled to start production this spring, and New Moon was rumored to start shooting this month. So I hope that Stewart and Fanning get along, because it looks like the two are going to be spending an awful lot of time together in the near future.