MTV Taps 'Lovely Bones' Actress to Star in 'Cassandra French' Pilot (Exclusive)

Cassandra French’s Finishing School for Boys has found its lead in Rose McIver.

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The New Zealand actress, best known stateside for her work in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones, has been tapped to play the titular role in MTV’s drama pilot. She joins the previously cast Steve Talley (I Just Want My Pants Back), Abby Pivaronas (Jonas) and Lyndon Smith.

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The project, based on Eric Garcia's book, centers on 22-year-old Cassie French, an overachiever who graduates from college and law school early and lands her dream job as a lawyer for a Hollywood studio. The catch: The men she meets are not mature enough to date her. When her latest hope at love (Talley) crosses the line and in the process knocks himself unconscious, she decides to lock him in her basement and train him to become the perfect gentleman.

The pilot is being adapted by Garcia (Matchstick Men), with Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt. 23’s Krysten Ritter accompanying him as an executive producer. (The project initially was developed as a star vehicle for Ritter, who bowed out when she landed the ABC comedy.) Michael Lehmann is set to direct with a tone similar to that of his earlier directorial effort, Heathers.

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If ordered to series, Cassandra French will join MTV’s growing collection of scripted offerings, including Awkward, Teen Wolf and the upcoming adaptation of U.K. hit The Inbetweeners.

McIver is repped by WME and Magnolia Entertainment in the U.S. and Johnson and Laird Management in New Zealand. 

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose