James Cameron's "Alita: Battle Angel" close to finding its lead actor

PanARMENIAN.Net - James Cameron's "Alita: Battle Angel" may be close to finding its lead actor. At least four actresses are said to be in the running for the 20th Century Fox adaptation of the popular manga that will be produced by Cameron, AceShowbiz said.

THR reports that Zendaya Coleman ("K.C. Undercover", "Spider-Man: Homecoming"), Maika Monroe ("Independence Day: Resurgence") and Rosa Salazar ("Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials") are among those considered for the lead role. Variety's Justin Kroll also learns that Bella Thorne, who was Zendaya's co-star on "Shake It Up", is the fourth finalist.

Sources say Zendaya could be a frontrunner for the role, but her already busy schedules with her hit TV show could be an issue.

Cameron was originally slated to direct the live-action pic, but his commitment to the "Avatar" sequels forced him to hand over the duty to Robert Rodriguez. Jon Landau is also set to produce. The project, however, has not been greenlit yet due to budgetary issues.

"Alita: Battle Angel" centers on the titular female cyborg who is rescued from a scrapyard by a doctor. With no memory of her previous life except her deadly martial-arts training, the rebuilt Alita becomes a hunter-warrior, tracking down and eliminating vicious criminals. The action-adventure story is meant to serve as a backdrop to themes of self-discovery and the search for love.