Dakota Fanning fronts 'Runaways'

Actress also set to play vamp in 'New Moon'

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Dakota Fanning is negotiating to play lead singer Cheri Currie in "The Runaways," the biopic of the '70s all-girl band that already has "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart playing Joan Jett.

Scripted and directed by Floria Sigismondi, the film begins production in late spring.

At 15, Fanning is the same age Currie was when she made her debut with the Runaways as the lead singer who belted out hard-edged tunes like "Cherry Bomb." Currie became caught up in drugs and a hard-partying lifestyle.

John and Art Linson are producing with River Road Entertainment's Bill Pohlad, with Jett serving as exec producer.

Fanning, who most recently starred in "The Secret Life of Bees" and "Push," and voiced "Coraline," is also booked to play a vampire in the "Twilight" sequel "New Moon."