Panettiere gets passport for "Nation"

BERLIN (Hollywood Reporter) - "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere has signed on for the teenage comedy "Daydream Nation."

Kieran Culkin ("The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys," "Igby Goes Down") is in negotiations to star as well.

Panettiere will play an acerbic teen, and Culkin will portray her oblivious boyfriend.

The film will mark the directorial debut of screenwriter Michael Goldbach, who co-wrote the 2004 Canadian production "Childstar" with Don McKellar. The producers of "Daydream Nation" -- Michael Besman ("About Schmidt") and Cameron Lamb of Lila 9th Prods. -- hope to reinvent the coming-of-age story for the 21st century, calling the film an intellectual comedy a la "Juno" and "Election."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter