Fanning sisters set for 'Keeper'

Duo join Cameron Diaz in Nick Cassavetes film

By MICHAEL FLEMING

D. Fanning

E. Fanning

New Line Cinema has set siblings Dakota and Elle Fanning to star with Cameron Diaz in "My Sister's Keeper," the Nick Cassavetes-directed adaptation of the Jodi Picoult novel. Production begins this March in Los Angeles.

Elle Fanning will play a young girl who sues for emancipation from her parents. Mom and Dad conceived her as a genetic match with the hope she could prolong her cancer-ridden sister's life.

Jeremy Leven wrote the script, and Mark Johnson will produce. Both teamed with Cassavetes and New Line on "The Notebook."

Pic marks the first time that the girls will work in scenes together on a film; both appeared in "I Am Sam."

The girls are younger than they were in Picoult's novel, but a decision was made to cast them younger because it was age-appropriate for Diaz.

Dakota Fanning recently completed the ensemble drama "Winged Creatures" with Kate Beckinsale and Forest Whitaker and is in Hong Kong shooting "Push," a Paul McGuigan-directed drama with Chris Evans and Djimon Honsou. Elle Fanning recently completed "Benjamin Button" and the indie drama "Phoebe in Wonderland," and she just completed "Nutcracker: The Untold Story," in which she has the starring role.